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Giants' Top Pick Beckham Says He's Cleared The Air With Coughlin

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Odell Beckham Jr. is back. Well, sort of.

The Giants' first pick in this year's draft has been sidelined since the beginning of training camp due to an injured right hamstring, something that has frustrated head coach Tom Coughlin.

Beckham returned to practice in East Rutherford, N.J., on Tuesday but only fielded punts. The talented wide receiver out of LSU told reporters that he's spoken to his coach and that the two are now on the same page.

"I talked to coach Coughlin and it's frustrating on both ends," Beckham said. "He wants me out there as bad as I want to be out there. And it's kind of like you work so hard to get where you're at now and you can't do the one thing you love to do. It's hard to just take all that time and then have your coach at the same time frustrated."

Beckham told reporters his hamstring has no structural damage, but there are other problems.

The Giants are installing a version of the West Coast offense under new offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo. Every day that Beckham misses puts him further and further behind the curve. And with Big Blue hoping to equip veteran quarterback Eli Manning with enough weapons to help him bounce back from a disappointing 2013 season, the last thing the team needs is for a high-end skill position talent like Beckham watching from the sidelines.

"We had that talk today and it was just kind of like, 'I know I'm new and we don't know each other that well,'" Beckham said. "So over time you get to know people and the bad part about it is your first impression is the kind that lasts forever, so you don't ever want to leave a bad impression. But at the same time I'm just trying to reassure him that he knows how hard it is for me to not be practicing. I'm a high-energy guy. I always loved practicing at LSU. I love practicing now."

Tom Coughlin

Speaking to WFAN's Mike Francesa at camp on Tuesday, Coughlin said when it comes to Beckham he's no longer going to dwell on what he can't control.

"It's hard for him and it's hard for us. But it's frustration. We know what we have and when we get him I think we will move forward," Coughlin said.

Beckham had 59 receptions for 1,152 yards and eight touchdowns last season for LSU. He figures to eventually see significant playing time alongside Victor Cruz out wide for the Giants.

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