National Football League

Giants' first-round pick Beckham close to playing

Published Sep. 29, 2014 5:49 p.m. ET

foxsports

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- The New York Giants suddenly-potent offense may soon have another weapon for Eli Manning.

First-round draft pick Odell Beckham Jr., did a little more during Monday's workout and there is an outside chance the speedy receiver may make his NFL debut Sunday when the Giants (2-2) play host to the Atlanta Falcons (2-2).

Beckham pulled a hamstring early in training camp and missed all five preseason games and the first four games of the regular season. Every time he practiced, he aggravated the injury.

The more time Beckham missed, the more Giants fans have bemoaned his failure to contribute to the team. The comments, through social media and other means, motivated him.

"I don't think there's anybody who's been more frustrated than I have been, sitting out, coming in and leaving, this being your first year and you've already missed games and you've never missed a game in your life," Beckham said Monday. "It's just not something that's easy to deal with."

The former LSU player recently returned to practice on a limited basis and he is starting to show signs that he will be ready to play in the Giants' new west coast offense has averaged 434 yards and 37.5 points in two consecutive wins.

While Beckham wants to get on the field as soon as possible, coach Tom Coughlin isn't going to rush him and aggravating the injury again.

"He has to practice," Coughlin said. "He has to practice consecutive days, he has to be able to show us that he's not only strong enough, but can endure day after day, so there's some room here to make some progress and impress everybody."

Manning has thrown to his fellow New Orleans native in passing camps at home, but the two have had little work since New York took Beckham with the 12th pick overall in the draft. He hopes to send a lot more time getting on the same page, both on and off the field.

On the field, it's just simple routes. Off the field, Manning is making sure Beckham is familiar with all the hand signals, the checks and what to do in certain situations.

"We're going to have to work hard with him to get him up to speed so when he's in there he's confident, he can play fast," Manning said. "I don't know what the game plan is for him right now, but we'll just take it day-by-day."

Beckham probably is the fastest receiver on the Giants and he should give them a legitimate deep threat, even though the offense has been more effective lately with Manning getting rid of the ball quickly to Victor Cruz, Rueben Randle and emerging tight end Larry Donnell.

In the wins over Texas and Washington, Manning was 49 of 67 passes for 535 yards, six touchdowns and an interception that wasn't his fault. The running game also gained 347 yards.

"I'm really just trying to learn the playbook and wherever I fit in is where I fit in," said Beckham, who had 59 catches for 1,152 yards and eight touchdowns in his final season in college. "Maybe see some deeper balls or we keep doing what we're doing, I don't really see a need to change."

Randle, who played with Beckham at LSU, can't wait for his buddy to play.

"I already know what he can do," Randle said. "I think it's up to him to show everybody else what he can do."