Odell Beckham Jr. Addresses Knee Surgery, Dolphins Deal

Odell Beckham Jr. was activated from the PUP list in time to make his Dolphins debut in Week 5. A knee injury prevented him from being healthy at the start of the campaign, something the veteran wideout recently expounded on.

“[After last] season, there was a lot going on in my life, personal life, businesses, all of that, that just kind of had me in a place where football wasn’t exactly a priority,” Beckham said (via Adam Beasley of Pro Football Network). “So football wasn’t exactly the first and foremost thing on my mind.

“Then I had to have a small clean up of the knee and just kind of going through that free agency process. You know, my agent and I went back and forth, whether we do it right after the season or we wait until free agency happens and I just feel like I waited too late.”

Indeed, it took until May for a deal between Beckham and the Dolphins to be worked out. That one-year pact has a value of $3MM, a reflection of what he is expected to produce with his latest team. The 31-year-old posted a 35-565-3 touchdown statline during his single campaign with the Ravens last year, and he is slated to handle WR3 duties in Miami behind Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. As Beasley notes, the Dolphins were on board with the timing of Beckham’s procedure knowing he would likely miss time at the start of the season. That allowed the former Rams Super Bowl winner to proceed with his Miami pact rather than continuing to wait out free agency.

Of course, the team’s offense is dealing with the absence of quarterback Tua Tagovailoa for the time being, and efficient passing attacks have not been present since his latest concussion. Beckham could help in that department once he returns to game shape after an offseason spent rehabbing from the surgery. Details on his recovery were scarce through the summer, with Miami electing to take a cautious approach which makes sense given the three-time Pro Bowler’s history of knee injuries.

A healthy slate the rest of the way on Beckham’s part would be welcomed for Miami’s offense as the team looks to build off Sunday’s win over the Patriots. That game brought the Dolphins’ record to 2-3, but improvement on offense will be needed moving forward. If Beckham can provide it, he could have a more traditional free agent process during the spring.