Anxiously waiting to see wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. in a Dolphins uniform, quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and others are going to be left in suspense until October.
According to reports, Beckham will start the 2024 season — his first in Miami — on the physically unable to perform list. By NFL rule, he would be required to miss the first four regular-season games and be eligible to return Oct. 6 for an AFC East matchup at New England.
Tagovailoa said he spent time with the veteran wideout off the field. But the quarterback was unable to get on the field with Beckham during training camp.
“Cool dude, 100 percent. But does that translate? Does our relationship translate on the field? I couldn’t tell you because I haven’t gotten reps with him. And that’s just the honest truth,” Tagovailoa said.
NFL Network reported Beckham is still recovering from an undisclosed offseason surgery.
Beckham, 31, signed a one-year, $8.25 million deal with the Dolphins, his fifth NFL team.
He was released by the Baltimore Ravens in March. Miami head coach Mike McDaniel said earlier this month he would classify Beckham as “week to week,” and didn’t want to push him to practice if the veteran wasn’t ready.
McDaniel said Beckham already has convinced teammates he’s a hard worker without being on the grass during live practice sessions.
“What you don’t want, and what I know Odell doesn’t want, is getting on the grass and then leaving it,” McDaniel said. “So just preparing people to be the version of themselves where they play confident and convicted. … Odell, his teammates know he’s working hard because he shows them that every day as he gets back on the field. He didn’t sign up for football to be in meetings. Even though my meetings are super entertaining, I don’t think that was the case. He’s working his way to be back on the field.”
Beckham appeared in 14 games (six starts) last season and caught 35 passes for 565 yards and three touchdowns. He added four receptions for 34 yards in the playoffs with the Ravens.
Beckham, a three-time Pro Bowl selection, was signed to be the third option for Tagovailoa behind Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle.
The New York Giants selected him No. 12 overall in the 2014 NFL Draft, and he also played for the Cleveland Browns (2019-21), Los Angeles Rams (2021) and Ravens.
Beckham missed the 2022 season as he recovered from a torn ACL suffered in the Rams’ win in Super Bowl LVI.
He has 566 career receptions for 7,932 receiving yards and 59 touchdowns in 110 games (97 starts).
–Field Level Media
