Odell Beckham Jr.’s return to the New York Giants lasted only three games. The team that drafted him in the first round in 2014 released him on Tuesday, ending a reunion that barely got off the ground.
Beckham had just one target across three appearances and was on the field for only 20 of 191 offensive snaps, struggling to find a way to force himself into a rotation led by Malik Nabers, Darnell Mooney, and rookie Malachi Fields.
In light of that move, Shawne Merriman and T.J. Houshmandzadeh have had their say on the matter.
Shawne Merriman, T.J. Houshmandzadeh React to Odell Beckham Jr.’s Release
Beckham’s last NFL game before this stint was Dec. 8, 2024, with the Miami Dolphins. He did not play during the 2025 season.
Beckham served a six-game suspension for violating the NFL’s performance-enhancing drug policy and remained unsigned after becoming eligible to return.
After Tuesday’s news went official, former NFL linebacker Shawne Merriman shared a brief and light message on X, addressing Beckham directly.
“Keep going, bro, you still got that crib in LA? Anyway, hope all is well, OBJ,” Merriman wrote.
Pro Bowl wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh went deeper during a segment on the “Speakeasy” podcast. He held the belief that Beckham’s career has been viewed in a way that put his celebrity image above all else.
“When we talk OBJ, it’s more OBJ the star, not OBJ the star athlete. It’s always been him over him the athlete, at least in my opinion. And so I don’t think that dilutes anything because the majority of people looked at OBJ as he was more celebrity than athlete,” Houshmandzadeh said.
PREDICT THE NFL SEASON:PFN’s Free NFL Playoff Predictor
He was careful to note that the celebrity status was itself a remarkable achievement for a receiver.
“That’s a tribute to him that, playing football with a helmet on, he reached the masses that he reached. He wasn’t just an American icon; he was global, and he was a football player. That rarely, rarely happens to a wide receiver, let alone a guy that wears a helmet,” Houshmandzadeh said.
Beckham made the 53-man roster after impressing in preseason, with Calvin Austin’s torn ACL helping clear a spot. John Harbaugh had hinted at a bigger role for him heading into Week 3 against Tennessee, saying he “would be all for it Sunday” and calling it “the perfect time.”
BE THE GM OF YOUR FAVORITE TEAM:PFN’s Free NFL Mock Draft Simulator
That, unfortunately, did not materialize. Fans chanted “OBJ! OBJ!” during the game, but Beckham was on the field for just six plays.
Beckham saw action on just 20 offensive snaps over three games with New York without hauling in a single catch. In the team’s 12-7 victory against Tennessee on Sunday, he had a solitary target, but that was the extent of his involvement.
The Giants moved quickly after the release, signing Braxton Berrios and Charlie Jones from the practice squad. The team also acquired quarterback J.J. McCarthy from Minnesota in a trade earlier in the week, with Jameis Winston set to start Sunday against Arizona.
This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.
Discover more from NAIRAVOICE.COM.NG
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
