WESTFIELD, Ind. — Since the start of training camp last month, Cleveland Browns wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. has been taking things slow on the field.
Although Beckham Jr. has been active in the individual position drills, as well as light seven-on-seven work with quarterback Baker Mayfield, but because of a hip issue, he was held out of the team periods during both of the joint practices with the Indianapolis Colts at Grand Park in Westfield, Indiana this week.
“I feel good. Feel great,” Beckham Jr. said of his status after Thursday’s practice. “It’s just preseason. There’s no point in trying to push anything right now. We play September 8, so that’s all you really get ready for.
“It’s nothing. I’ve been in this position before, headlines get made and there’s just so much good stuff going on with this team, so many players who are out here practicing and they are competing and it’s enjoyable for me to be able to be out there with them and be able to sit there and watch and learn the plays and see these guys compete.”
Beckham Jr. is happy with the progress he has made throughout the individual periods, as well as in the classroom, but the Pro Bowl receiver deferred most of the attention to his teammates who have been on the practice field more often throughout training camp.
“I don’t want to focus so much on me,” Beckham Jr. said. “I’m good. There’s a lot going on that we should focus on. Lot of people out here making plays. Strong coming along, Higgins making plays, the ball’s getting rolling.
“I’m just excited to get back out there with them, just because it looks like so much fun just watching them move the ball up and down the field, seeing them be efficient and not backing down from anybody. I love this team’s mentality, I love this team’s direction. I’m just excited to get back out there, be a part of it.”
Beckham Jr. is known for his fierce competitive spirit, and it is because of that why the Browns are holding him back from practicing and risking potential longer-term issues.
“I would just push,” Beckham Jr. said. “Even in the past, I would just push. It’s the only thing I know. I’m too competitive. I’m too competitive to be out here and not go 110. I don’t know any other way, but I also don’t like being out here and not being able to go, so it’s tough, but you just trust their plan. It’s really all I can do.”
While Beckham Jr. has missed several days’ worth of team drills in his first camp with the Browns, he is working on other ways to develop chemistry with quarterback Baker Mayfield, and feels that by the time the regular season gets underway against the Tennessee Titans at FirstEnergy Stadium on Sunday, September 8, the two will be in-sync.
“We talk every day,” Beckham Jr. said. “We talk football. We talk about just the little ins and outs of football. Even when I’m watching him make other throws, I’m still coming to ask him what is it that you’re seeing. We just talked football today, so it’s not something I’m worried about.
“It’s two competitive, fiery people. Just the way that he is, I don’t want to let him down, so I’m going to do everything in my power to be exactly where I need to be when I need to be there, and as I’ve seen already, he’s going to deliver that ball.”