In the New York giants second preseason game against the Cleveland Browns, wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. suffered an ankle injury after taking a hit in mid air to the legs that many people have considered "dirty." After the hit, Beckham was apparently in a great deal of pain. However, he was able to get up and walk to the locker room on his own but was unable to return to the game. Head coach Bob McAdoo told the media that the injury that his star wide receiver had suffered was not as severe as it had looked.

The news was a relief for Giants fans that have high expectations for OBJ this upcoming season.

Due to the suspension of Ezekiel Elliott, New York has turned into the favorite by many to win the highly competitive NFC East this year. Unfortunately, with the firepower that the Philadelphia Eagles acquired this offseason, the Giants may need Beckham to be healthy for all 16 games to have the best chance at pulling that off.The team will open the season on the road against the Cowboys on September 10.

Contract year for OBJ

One of the biggest topics of the NFL this offseason was, will the New York Giants offer Beckham a pretty hefty contract extension? The fourth year wideout spoke about the matter in training camp when asked by the media. His response was that he felt like he should be the highest paid player in the NFL but it was also something that he was not focused on and he leaves those issues up to his agents.

But like any other player in his position, he's anxious to use this season to prove that he is indeed worthy of a much bigger paycheck.

The Giants picked up veteran wideout Brandon Marshall this offseason to add depth around Beckham. The addition of Marshall should allow him to receive less attention from defenders, which should help him put up better numbers and make bigger plays down the field.

However, if his injury causes him to miss extensive time, it will be tougher for the Giants to take the risk of re-signing possible damaged goods. If New York fails to make the playoffs this season, it could be the last year fans see OBJ playing in a Giants uniform.

If so, there will be at least 31 other teams waiting to sign the All-Pro receiver to a long-term deal.

Season expectations

The Giants have been predicted by many to win the NFC East this season and Odell Beckham Jr. is the biggest reason why. He has been a top-five receiver since he's arrived in the league and his overly emotional on-field rants have given him the spotlight needed to prove he is the best. Unfortunately, fans may have to wait a week or two to see the star wideout in action.
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