Odell Beckham Jr.
(Photo by Scott W. Grau/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Odell Beckham Jr. apparently swayed a young Jets fan to the New York Giants side by playing catch with him prior to Friday night’s game.

All’s fair in New York football fan wars. Odell Beckham Jr. went straight to the on-field recruitment.

In video obtained by the NFL’s official Twitter account, the superstar New York Giants receiver plays catch with a young fan clad in the college jersey of New York Jets rookie quarterback Sam Darnold prior to the battle of metropolitan franchises on Friday night. Though the USC-clad youngster struggles to haul in the ball on the first throw, he eventually catches it with a Beckham-like prowess, perhaps thanks-in-part to a literal pick-me-up.

After emulating his new idol Beckham with the catch, the child channels his inner Darnold, throwing it back to Beckham, who runs off to return to pregame drills and stretching. The video ends with the joyous kid celebrating his new friendship, perhaps ensuring his satisfaction no matter the result of the game, a 22-16 Giant victory. Though Beckham did not play, Darnold did throw a first-half touchdown pass to Terrelle Pryor, finishing the game 8-for-16 for 86 yards.

Though Beckham has yet to play this preseason, Giants fans are excited to have the big play receiver back on the field in any capacity, as he missed all but four games last season with ankle injuries, including one that ended his season during a Week 5 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. Entering the final season of his rookie contract, reports have since circulated that both Beckham and the Giants are gaining confidence that a deal can by the Giants’ Week 1 showdown on Sept. 9 at home against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

The Giants will conclude their preseason, along with the rest of the NFL, on Thursday night, as they welcome in the defending AFC champion New England Patriots to MetLife Stadium (7:00 p.m. ET, WNBC).

Follow Geoff Magliocchetti on TWITTER