Odell Beckham was off to a blistering start in Super Bowl LVI, before this happened.
Beckham was initially announced as “questionable” to return, though it was obvious from his body language, weeping on the Rams’ sideline, that wasn’t going to happen. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the 29-year-old is “believed” to have suffered a torn ACL, an injury that—depending on its severity—could cost Beckham a significant chunk, if not all, of next season.
It’s Beckham's second ACL tear in as many seasons after injuring the same knee (left) with Cleveland in 2020. That also occurred against the Bengals.
While there’s never a good time to blow out your knee, the timing is especially bad for Beckham, who is headed for free agency this offseason. After flaming out with the Browns, who granted his release last fall (his father’s vocal criticism of teammate Baker Mayfield helped facilitate his departure), OBJ enjoyed a career renaissance in Los Angeles, contributing 48 catches for 593 yards and seven touchdowns in 11 games (postseason included) for his new team.
Coming off his first 100-yard game in two years, Beckham snagged two of three targets for 52 yards and a touchdown before he got hurt. Many attributed Beckham’s injury to the turf at SoFi Stadium, which has claimed more than a few victims since opening last year.
Though arriving at the biggest game of his life, only to suffer a devastating injury, couldn’t have been an easy pill to swallow, Beckham still got to experience the thrill of a lifetime, celebrating the Rams’ first title in 22 years. It’s doubtful the Rams would have made it this far without Beckham, who, until his knee gave out Sunday night, had done a masterful job filling in for Robert Woods (who tore his ACL at practice the day after Beckham signed) opposite Super Bowl MVP Cooper Kupp.
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