Browns rumors: Plan was always to play Odell Beckham in Week 3

In Cleveland Browns rumors, the team reportedly will go through the practice week planning on playing Odell Beckham when the team hosts the Chicago Bears at FirstEnergy Stadium.

The report comes from The OBR’s Brad Stainbrok. No word on whether will Beckham will bust out his Andre Rison T-Shirt.

Coach Kevin Stefanski was asked about this rumor, and the head coach said there was no date circled on the calendar, stating OBJ’s health status was always day-to-day.

Beckham’s return can’t come soon enough, simply for the fact that the Browns are desperate for receiving help following a knee injury to Jarvis Landry on the first play of the game against the Texans. The Browns revealed Landry suffered an MCL strain.

Rumor also has it that the Browns were always eyeing Week 3 as the return date for Beckham, according to Stainbrook (Twitter link). It sure looked like the Browns intended to play Beckham in Week 1 against the Chiefs, only decided a couple hours before kickoff, to keep Beckham on the bench.

Beckham suffered a torn ACL on Oct. 7, 2020, when the Browns visited the Cincinnati Bengals. That used to be a 12-month injury, but Beckham created hope he’d return sooner with Instagram posts that turned him into. Super Man with the intensity he ran on a treadmill.

Unfortunately, I can look like Super Man in a 20 second clip. It’s not football. The full-speed cuts and hits aren’t there. Everything Beckham does is part of a hype machine, that’s the purpose these videos sought to serve.

Cleveland Browns practice week will tip us on OBJ

We’ll know if he’s truly ready to go on Sunday if he practices and takes contact. While he participated in Training Camp, he never took hits–a strong indication that was a long shot to see him suit up against Kansas City in Week 1.

With both Beckham and Landry out, the Browns got a cold-dose of reality when their wide receivers contribute virtually nothing to the passing game against Houston. Mayfield leaned more on tight ends and their most productive passing play went to a guy who’s still listed as a tight end.

Some thought Davion Davis might be activated to the roster. He was on the suspended list from an incident stepping from two years, meaning he the Brown didn’t have to make decision on him on cut-down day.

After Davis was cleared, the Browns promptly waived him. He had a great camp, but I think it goes too how much we all tend to overate the preseason.

As for Beckham, I don’t expect anything from the veteran. Since he’s come to Cleveland, he seems to get more pub for things he does outside the lines while his days as a truly elite receiver look farther and farther away in the review mirror.