After being entangled with a prolonged trade saga, veteran wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. finally decided to stay on the Baltimore Ravens roster for a one-year deal following quarterback Lamar Jackson’s whopping five-year, $260 million extension, however, he couldn’t join Jackson in optional team activities following the successful trade.
Beckham went through troubles of injuries alongside legal issues and recently he discussed the challenging long journey he underwent to recover from a severe injury while simultaneously facing the emotional burden due to the dismissal of assault charges against him.
Ravens Odell Beckham Jr. weighs in on injury recovery
After missing all games in the 2022 season, Odell took part in a live practice on Tuesday as the Ravens opened a mandatory minicamp.
Following a prolonged 16 months period, the three-time Pro Bowl selection headed to the football field after suffering a knee injury during the second quarter of Super Bowl LVI in February 2022.
John Harbaugh said Odell Beckham Jr. is “full go” in terms of health but it will be “see as it goes” in terms of reps.
This will mark OBJ’s first practice since injuring his knee in the Super Bowl 16 months ago. pic.twitter.com/AEIoJgMdnX
— Jamison Hensley (@jamisonhensley) June 13, 2023
The Ravens star opened up to the reporters before Tuesday’s practice session to shed light on the challenging time he underwent throughout the last few months and expressed his excitement to showcase his athleticism by donning a Baltimore jersey.
“I think I’ve been trying to not think about it so much, because there’s been so many disappointments. And I’ve been in a good mental headspace, to where I’ve tried to downplay this. But I definitely think that I’ll be excited to put a jersey on and go out and do the thing that you’ve done your whole life and that you love to do.”
Beckham ran through last week and was intending to take part in the additional workouts following the minicamp, however, he was visibly upset for being forced to remain out of the field at his prime.
“It’s a process. It’s hard when you get to the pinnacle of success in this sport and you feel like it was taken away from you. It wasn’t something that was easy to live with. It was very hard to go through that. And then have surgery and your son born four days after, so many mixed emotions that I’ve had to deal with over the years. But it kind of all gets put to rest.”
The Ravens’ head coach John Harbaugh thinks their WR is a “full go” in terms of health, albeit the franchise is planning to apply a “see as it goes” approach for him to facilitate his comeback on the field.
“He’s worked really hard to get himself back to this point, where he’s excited to go. And I’m sure he’s a little anxious and anticipating getting back on the field for the first time. So we’re not going to go crazy out here, but I think it’s a good first step for him.”
Beckham Jr. avoids charges after alleged assault at nightclub
The Former Los Angeles Rams was accused of putting his hand around a woman’s neck at a club located on Santa Monica Boulevard in Deliah in April, per TMZ Sports, however, he constantly denied the allegation over time.
The owner of the club John Terzian said the claim was baseless as they found no evidence while reviewing the videos.
“We were contacted about an investigation and reviewed the videos, the claim is false. There is no evidence of this person even being in the area where she claims the incident occurred.”
Following an investigation of a whole month, no further evidence was found against the veteran player, and the lead investigator on the case Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Detective Juan Bonilla said on May 23 that the case would be dropped and no charges would be brought against him.
The journey of struggling with injuries and legal issues is undoubtedly challenging for any player especially when he is at the peak of his career, however, Beckham’s story serves as a testament to his resilience and unyielding spirit.
The Ravens fans will eagerly wait to witness their favorite wide receiver make a successful comeback and shine brighter than ever before.
