Odell Beckham Jr. missed the past two games with a quad contusion and the Giants are now eliminated from playoff contention, but there are no plans or thoughts of shutting the star receiver down for the final two games of the season.
“He’s like every other player,’’ coach Pat Shurmur said Monday. “We’re going to try to get him back for this Sunday. He’s a valuable member of our team and if he’s healthy enough to play then we’ll get him out there.’’
Shurmur said he is “hopeful’’ Beckham can return to face the Colts in Indianapolis.
“He feels better today than he did late last week so hopefully he’ll be able to work his way back in,’’ he said.
Last week, Beckham in his Facebook series “I am more: OBJ’’ gave details as to how he got hurt and the nature of the injury, which is not information Shurmur and the Giants want to publicize. Where some outside the organization viewed this as a breach of team policy, the head coach did not sound hot and bothered about it.
“I didn’t spend much time on Facebook and whatnot,’’ Shurmur said. “I just work with him on a daily basis. He’s doing what he can to come back from that injury. I don’t really have any comment on the Facebook part of it. He’s doing what he can to get back, going through treatment and trying to do everything he can to get back in the game.’’
This was the first time the Giants reported for work this season knowing, officially, they are not headed to the playoffs. Players said the mood was normal, not downcast.
“Being a professional, going about your business and whatever place you’re in, we know we’re not going to make the playoffs,’’ WR Sterling Shepard said. “It’s still come to work and still grinding every day and trying to get a ‘W.’ Doesn’t matter where we are as a team, we’re going to try to go get a ‘W.’ ”
Shurmur was not alarmed to hear rookie Kyle Lauletta admit after the 17-0 loss to the Titans that he was disappointed he was demoted to the No. 3 quarterback spot and thus inactive for the game.
“I would imagine any player that goes from being active to inactive would feel that way,’’ Shurmur said. “That being said, I think Kyle has a bright future. We’ve said this all along, he’s got a long way to go in terms of doing the things necessary. And although he can get in there and function, there’s a lot to learn playing quarterback in this league. He’s made great progress this year.’’
As it stands today, the Giants have the No. 8 overall pick in the draft. Their record of 5-9 is the same as the Falcons and Lions, so there is a legitimate chance the Giants if they lose-out can move up to the No. 6 spot. The Bills and Buccaneers are also 5-9 but behind the Giants in the draft order. The Cardinals and Raiders, both 3-11, seem locked into the 1-2 spots, in some order. Of the seven teams currently ahead of them in the first round, only one, the Jaguars at No. 5, unquestionably needs a quarterback.