NEW YORK _ Odell Beckham Jr. is inching toward an actual game.
On Thursday he participated in team drills for the first time since spraining his ankle on Aug. 21, going through some routes and catching passes with the rest of the Giants' receiving squad. He had done some individual work and caught passes from Eli Manning in a pregame workout prior to the Cowboys game last Sunday in Dallas but eventually was ruled out by the Giants' medical staff.
Beckham looked spry stretching with the team on Thursday, dancing at some points, and leaping high in the air during one of the calisthenics. He seemed to have no ill effects from the ankle injury and was able to run and change direction fluidly.
His ability to practice this week should greatly improve his chances of playing Monday night against the Lions.
As for other injuries, starting right tackle Bobby Hart did not participate in practice. The Giants have several options to replace him if he cannot play on Monday, including moving left guard Justin Pugh to right tackle and replacing Pugh with Brett Jones. The Giants also could give undrafted rookie Chad Wheeler his first NFL start or ask D.J. Fluker to play right tackle. Fluker came into the league as a first-round pick of the Chargers and played tackle early in his career before switching to guard.
Also not practicing was LB Keenan Robinson, still in the concussion protocol.
The Giants said DT Jay Bromley (knee), WR Tavarres King (ankle) and CB Janoris Jenkins (hand/ankle) will be listed on the injury report Thursday, but all three appeared to be practicing without limitations during the portion of the workout open to the media.
