Odell Beckham Jr. made his anticipated return to the NFL field on Tuesday during the Baltimore Ravens’ mandatory minicamp. This marked the first time in 16 months that the wide receiver had played in a game since injuring his left knee during Super Bowl LVI in February 2022. Although Beckham did not have his most memorable practice, he did catch a pass from Lamar Jackson and playfully did pushups after slipping on a route in a limited workout. The 30-year-old participated in a handful of team drills, and despite not delivering one of his signature one-handed grabs, he participated in all of the position drills and had no issues running or cutting.
Beckham sat out the entire 2022 season with the knee injury before signing a one-year, $15 million deal with Baltimore in April, which was the largest contract by a free agent wide receiver this offseason. He skipped all of the voluntary offseason workouts before reporting to mandatory minicamp this week. Ravens coach John Harbaugh said that Beckham is “full go” in terms of health but that the team would monitor his reps during the three-day minicamp.
“It feels good to be able to get out of bed and not feel pain,” Beckham said. “It feels good to feel like if I need to take off running right now, I can take off running. It has been a long journey this time around.”
The Importance of Chemistry
Beckham, a three-time Pro Bowl receiver, is one of the most high-profile free agent signings in Ravens history, which has garnered him much attention in his first practice with the team. After talking to the media for 15 minutes, he received a big hug from Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti. Later, during practice, Beckham received a handshake from general manager Eric DeCosta.
Although Beckham knows the importance of these connections, he understands that his biggest connection has to be with Lamar Jackson. He plans to train with Jackson in South Florida during the five-week break after minicamp and before the start of training camp. Beckham emphasized that chemistry would develop over time since it is not something he is worried about. He is focused on getting ready for the upcoming season in September when they play.
“He’s worked really hard to get himself back to this point,” Harbaugh said. “I’m sure he’s a little anxious anticipating getting back on the field for the first time. We’re not going to go crazy out here, but I think it’s a good first step for him.”
Throughout the practice, Beckham participated in all team drills and had no issues running or cutting. When asked about his physical status, Beckham declined to give a percentage, explaining that it feels like it’s “a setup.” However, he did mention that he is definitely fast and is excited to be back on the field with his new team.
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