Odell Beckham Jr. is running out of time to make good on his vow to play again this season.
Beckham will miss his third straight game Sunday in Indianapolis with the quad injury he suffered on the final play of the Giants’ loss to the Eagles on Nov. 25.
“He’s closer. He did more this week, he was able to do more field work, so we’ll just have to see what the next couple of days brings,” coach Pat Shurmur said.
After suffering the injury, the $95 million receiver played the following week against the Bears. Since then, without Beckham, the Giants posted 40 points for the only time this season in a win over the Redskins before they were blanked 17-0 last Sunday by the Titans.
“Two different scenarios,” Shurmur said. “I would say we didn’t do anything that we needed to do against any opponent with any player on the field last week. We didn’t do enough on first down. We didn’t do well on third down. We turned the ball over in a tight game. So it doesn’t matter who was on the field. The week previous, we did all the things necessary, so that’s how I balance it.”
Linebacker Alec Ogletree (concussion), center Spencer Pulley (ankle) and wide receiver Russell Shepard (ankle) also will miss Sunday’s game for the eliminated Giants, who will close out the season Dec. 30 against Dallas.
With Ogletree sidelined, linebackers coach Bill McGovern said much of the play-calling duties on defense will fall to B.J. Goodson and rookie Tae Davis.
“We have some good players out there, but at linebacker, making calls and stuff, obviously like we did it last time, B.J., Tae, all those guys have added responsibility,” McGovern said. “It’s always hard when you lose a veteran, a guy who’s a leader, a guy who’s a great communicator. Those are things that you obviously miss out on the field. But it’s an opportunity for the other guys now to kind of step forward and prove themselves.”
Defensive end Kerry Wynn (thumb) has been listed as questionable, while return man Jawill Davis was limited in practice with a hamstring issue. John Greco will start at center for Pulley, Shurmur said.