Wednesday Media Transcript: WR Odell Beckham Jr.

WR Odell Beckham Jr.

September 6, 2017

Q: How do you feel?

A: I feel better. It’s a new day. So just taking it day to day.

Q: Where are you in terms of being medically cleared?

A: Yeah. I don’t know. Whenever they clear it, then we’ll be cleared. So, it’s just kind of – it’s really a day to day thing. I feel better than I did yesterday. I feel better than I did the day before yesterday. So, it’s progress.

Q: Did you do the most today at practice that you’ve done?

A: Today was a good day. I don’t know about the most I’ve done, but today was a good day.

Q: Have you done any running, sprinting or cutting?

A: Yeah. Here and there. I’ve done some running and cutting.

Q: Is there anything in your mind that stands out as the most important thing you need to do and prove to yourself?

A: I don’t know. It’s just something you feel. Something you feel and when they clear you, they’ll clear you to play. I mean, it sucks, but it’s just a day to day thing. You try and get better each and every day. I’ve been rehabbing an endless amount of hours and treatment, etc. So, just trying to get it right.

Q: How much do you anticipate in the next couple days based on the progress you’ve made and do you see yourself playing on Sunday?

A: I wouldn’t count it out. My heart – it’s just not going to make this easy. I can say that it’s a day to day thing – really trying to get better. It’s been two weeks. I’m itching. I’m itching, but just patience and trusting.

Q: Is recovery taking longer than you thought?

A: I knew what it was when it happened. It’s just a matter of how fast you can get back. I think we’re on a tremendous path 16 days out. So, like I said, it’s really – it’s getting there day to day and we’ll see when the time comes around.

Q: How much worse did the injury feel the day after it happened?

A: You still have the adrenaline and everything that was flowing through you. There’s a whirlwind of stuff going on. So, the day of, it wasn’t as bad. The day after, you wake up and it’s pretty sore. The day after that, it’s pretty sore, and then it takes its time and your body does what it does, heal, etc.

Q: How much do you regret going back to the sideline after jogging off the field?

A: No. It wouldn’t have done anything either way. The injury had already happened. It’s not like jogging, you know, testing it on the sideline is going to make it worse. It already happened, so that’s how I get my body right. The only way to feel something for me is to feel it. Unfortunately, so I try to feel it out while I’m out there.

Q: Were you angry with the hit that caused your injury?

A: I guess it’s part of the game. In my opinion, they made rules about safeties hitting high and it being a problem and I know I probably shouldn’t say this, but I will. I’d rather a safety hit me up high 21 times out of one time. I don’t even know the ratio. I’d rather him hit me up there every single time than go low. But, it’s part of the game. It’s part of the game that you risk getting fined, you risk a suspension. There’s all kinds of things that a safety has going through their head in the moment. So, I can’t really fault what happened. It just happened. It is what it is. It’s life. Take it on the chin. You keep moving.

Q: Obviously, you want to be on the field for the opening game on primetime.

A: All that. I had probably one of the longest offseasons ever in my life and I feel like this camp, this season coming up, there was no better season that I would have. So, it’s just unfortunate, but it really was just a little setback for me to come back. Whatever. However you want to look at it, I just know I’m in a good place and trying to get there day to day just being patient.

Q: How are you balancing your anxiousness to play with rehabbing correctly?

A: Itching. I’m itching. It’s just what you love to do and, you know, nobody ever wants that taken away from them, especially with the amount of work we’ve been putting in. The chemistry and everything. We were just rolling. We were in a good place. That’s life, though. Life happens. You get set back. It’s really how you come back from that, how you handle adversity. This is nothing that I won’t overcome.

Q: Do you think you’ll wear a brace or tape if you play Sunday?

A: If I have to wear a brace or tape it, then I’m probably not going to play. Pretty natural. I haven’t taped since high school. I don’t remember. I just stopped taping ankles. I just kind of go with the natural feel of it. So, if it feels right, there’s no way I’m not going to play. If it feels right and they clear it, we’re working it.

Q: Will Ezekiel Elliott being in the lineup affect your team and has it affected the locker room this week?

A: I mean, I don’t know who was surprised in here. I knew he was playing Week 1. There’s no questions about it. It was going to always be the same game plan and right now I think the mentality is what coach said. ‘Every back is the same when they have nowhere to run.’ This is a tough defense he’s going against. He’s one of the best in the league. This is one of the best defenses in the league. So, it’ll be a good matchup. Hopefully, he gets everything figured out.

Q: How do you feel about the offensive matchup with the Cowboys?

A: I’m itching to get out there. Let me just say that. We have a very good matchup. We have a very good game plan. It’s going to be a very good game. I know on this side – I don’t know what’s going on over there – but I know the Giants are coming with it. Set the tone for the season and really start things off the way we want and get us on the right path. So, I know for sure we’re coming with it and we look to take advantage of the mismatches and the opportunities they do have in their defense.

Q: Talk about Sunday’s game.

A: I think we can set the tone and really establish a tone. It was like, we won last year. No, now you need to – this is how you’re coming all year. Make it an emphasis and that’s just really where my mind is at. I know everybody else is there. I know everybody is beyond excited to play. Felt like it was a quick little preseason. Three games in 10 days, 11 days, something like that. Everybody is just ready for some real action. I know everybody is ready.

Q: What are you expecting from the offense this season?

A: Just keep it one day at a time. We’re trying to get 1% better. I never hold my tongue. I’m expecting big things.

Q: What do you lose if you’re not able to practice the rest of this week?

A: Reps. That’s about it. We’ve been doing this. I’ve been throwing with Eli (Manning) since I was a sophomore in high school. It’s been two weeks. Nothing is really going to change. Yeah, I wish I could be practicing. I wish we could have routes and this and that, etc. But, it is what it is at this point. You just have to kind of keep going with it. Whenever they clear you, you can go.

Q: What is your injury?

A: Some kind of ankle sprain. Somewhere in that area around the ankle. Somewhere.

Q: Is it in the upper part of the ankle maybe?

A: Upper, lower, middle, left, right. Southeast.