British fans of American football presumably are eager to get an in-person look at Odell Beckham, Jr., on Sunday, but they might not know until game day whether that is in the cards.
The Giants receiver practiced on a limited basis because of a hip injury Thursday before the Giants left for London, and afterward was noncommittal about his level of fitness.
"Better than (Wednesday)," he said. "So I'll just keep it going from there and see how I feel."
Beckham said he would try to stay loose by moving around on the plane but added, "It's going to be tough. I tend to sleep on the plane. It's really the only time I can get away from everybody, everything, all the outside stuff that goes on."
Offensive coordinator Mike Sullivan said of Beckham's status, "We're very optimistic. We're very hopeful, obviously. We'll wait and see how it transpires."
Even after his 222 receiving yards against the Ravens last weekend, Beckham received another round of criticism from many fans and media members for his antics, in particular his complicated relationship with kicking nets.
Even quarterback Eli Manning and coach Ben McAdoo weighed in. "It's funny," Beckham said. "The joke was on me and now it's more so on you all (reporters) and you don't like it that I mess around with the kicking net now, after it was a lot of fun recently and now it's not so much fun because I have had a lot of fun with it, so it's still pretty funny to me."
Asked about current and former players who have suggested he cut it out, he said, "Just playing football. That's the bottom line."
When a reporter jokingly referenced the fact his sweater had holes in it and asked whether he needs money for new clothes, Beckham answered, "I can't pay for full clothes. I get fined every week."
Manning overheard the exchange from his nearby locker and jokingly chimed in: "Whose fault is that?"
