Cleveland Browns: Odell Beckham Jr. practicing brings sigh of relief
Odell Beckham Jr. participated in Cleveland Browns team drills in practice for the first time since early August, a great sign for the immediate future.
While the Cleveland Browns trading for Odell Beckham Jr. has caused a storm around the NFL and among fans, we’ve not yet seen him on the field in full action. Through three preseason games, we’ve not seen the superstar wide receiver take snaps on the field with Baker Mayfield as he’s been recovering from a hip injury.
It’s looking like we’ll finally see that combination in action, though, come Week 1 of the 2019 regular season.
On Monday, Beckham took part in team drills at Browns practice for the first time in almost a month, according to ESPN’s Jake Trotter. Trotter also noted that Beckham, as expected regardless of the previous three preseason games, won’t play in the team’s final exhibition contest on Thursday. Yet, he’s on track to be on the field for Week 1.
The fact that Cleveland’s shiniest new face is going to be on the field to start the regular season isn’t ground-breaking news. That’s long been the expectation as his lack of presence in preseason action has been more about getting him ready for just that.
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At the same time, though, Browns fans have to breathe a sigh of relief knowing that Beckham is on his way back to the field in a full capacity. The mercurial OBJ is expected to take Freddie Kitchens’ offense and, subsequently, the team to new heights in the 2019 season. That doesn’t happen, though, if he’s not on the field and 100 percent healthy.
Of course, those who are eager to pour cold water on any hype coming out of Cleveland are sure to point out that Beckham still needs to work with his new quarterback to develop chemistry. Kitchens tried to calm those worries on Monday, saying the following to Trotter:
"“They’ve been working through the whole camp. … Just because there wasn’t any team drills doesn’t mean they weren’t working,” Kitchens said. “They’ll definitely be on top of their game when we start game-planning. … It’s knowing where to line up, where to be, getting to your depth and catching the ball. After that, it’s get the ball in [Beckham’s] hands and see what he can do.”"
Even if it’s just coach-speak, the head coach’s word is the best that we’ve got from the outside looking in at the situation. So, you have to take Kitchens at his word.
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Regardless, it appears the new-look Browns are in line to start the 2019 regular season fully intact, with Beckham and Mayfield ready to take the league by storm. Of course, they still have to enact that plan once Week 1 comes but being ready to make the attempt is the first step.