EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Sunday is what matters, so in spite of anything/everything Tom Coughlin has ever said about players having to practice in order to play, the fact that New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. hasn't practiced yet this week shouldn't keep him from playing against the Cowboys on Sunday.

Beckham missed the two main days of practice last week because of his hamstring issue, but he participated in the team's final practice of the week Sunday and was able to play in Monday night's game. He's on a similar program this week -- missing practice Wednesday and Thursday but planning to participate in Saturday's up-tempo walkthrough and play Sunday.

"We're going to be all right," Beckham said Thursday. "The game plan is for Sunday. It's about knowing what you need to do to get ready for Sunday."

Beckham said he's getting "mental reps" while watching practice from the sideline and that the schedule he kept last week helps him know how to prepare for Sunday's game. Coughlin said the trade-off is worth it.

"Oh, no question, yeah," Coughlin said. "He plays the whole game and then they deal with whatever comes out of the game and get him ready for the next one. This is where we are right now, and it may be that way for a while. I hope not. Obviously, you practice, you get better."

Also missing practice Thursday were linebackers Jon Beason (knee) and Uani Unga (neck), wide receiver Victor Cruz (knee, calf) and cornerback Prince Amukamara, who's already been ruled out for the game with his pectoral injury. If Beason and Unga are both sidelined, that would leave the Giants with a big hole at middle linebacker.

Defensive end Robert Ayers and linebacker Devon Kennard were among those listed as limited practice participants Thursday, and each appears to have a chance to return to the lineup Sunday after missing games to hamstring injuries.