The third preseason game is usually considered a dress rehearsal for the regular season. The Giants hope that won't be the case, since they won't have either of their top receivers on Saturday. At least one of them -- the best one -- isn't certain to be ready in Week 1.
Odell Beckham Jr. took a hard hit to his knee against Cleveland on Monday night. It looked very bad at the time, though it turned out to be an ankle injury, and apparently not a major one. But it's significant enough that New York isn't certain he'll be available for the season-opening game against Dallas.
It's an ankle sprain, and apparently not a high-ankle sprain, but New York is vague about how long it could sideline him. In the same game, Brandon Marshall injured a shoulder after a hit. X-rays were negative, but he's also being called day-to-day with the injury. Sounds like the Giants aren't overly concerned and he'll be fine for Week 1.
Neither one is likely to play Saturday evening against the Jets. Sterling Shepard will get a long look as Eli Manning's top receiver, and Tavarres King and Roger Lewis will too.
Too soon to say that Beckham will miss a game, but it's possible, and something to factor into your drafts the next week or so, at least until we get a little more of a timeline.
On the off-chance you were torn between selecting Beckham Jr., Antonio Brown or Julio Jones around the 3rd or 4th pick in your draft, this makes it easier to maybe slide Beckham down to No. 3 among those receivers. Marshall, with this scare, becomes a little less enticing (can his body hold up?), Shepard becomes more intriguing as a sleeper, as he might need to start some games as the clear No. 1 or 2 in a pass-dominated offense.
--Andy Richardson