- Beckham Jr caught the ball – then the Chargers’ Casey Howard caught him
- The receiver landed awkwardly underneath Howard, freacturing his ankle
- Beckham Jr was the fourth receiver lost in the game, which the Giants lost 27-22
- Brandon Marshall, Sterling Shepard and Dwayne Harris were all taken off
The Giants’ disastrous season has continued to tumble downhill after Odell Beckham Jr suffered a broken ankle in Sunday’s game against the Chargers.
Things were looking tentatively promising as the Giants led 22-20 with about four minutes left to go – until he attempted to make a catch with Chargers cornerback Casey Howard inbound.
Beckham Jr landed awkwardly underneath Howard and snapped his ankle, leaving his team – already short-staffed after losing three other receivers earlier on – to lose 27-22.
Fallen giant: Odell Beckham Jr is seen here being taken off the field after a late-game fractured ankle. He was the fourth receiver to be taken off the field in Sunday’s disastrous game
Painful: Beckham Jr can be seen here getting his ankle caught in the legs of Casey Howard. Giants receivers Brandon Marshall, Sterling Shepard and Dwayne Harris were also taken off
Beckham Jr is now being submitted for surgery, ESPN said. He was the fourth receiver lost on the team in that game.
Brandon Marshall and Sterling Shepard both hurt their ankles in the second quarter and Dwayne Harris fractured his foot in the second half.
Captain Eli Manning could be seen grimacing as Beckham Jr, crying through the agony, was carted off the field.
With Beckham Jr out, Manning then fumbled the ball in Giants territory, leading to a miserable defeat at the Chargers’ hands.
It was particularly painful for fans as Beckham had done much to rejuvenate the team’s stumbling fortunes early on in the game.
Early in the fourth quarter he scored a triumphant 48-yard touchdown. But good fortune only goes so far for the Giants this year.
The team also saw defensive captain Jonathan Casillas and cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie out of the game.
Speaking after the game, Manning said they’d tried to ‘simplify the game plan’ once they were down to two receivers.
But clearly, there’s only so much that can be done with the team’s remaining receiver, Roger Lewis.
Agony: Eli Manning (second from left) looks furious as Beckham Jr (right) is taken away. The Giants lost the game 27-22 after their star player was taken for ankle surgery