CLEVELAND, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – Odell Beckham Jr. was unable to finish the season and experience the playoffs with the Browns but Wednesday he posted a message saluting his teammates.
Beckham posted the following message text to his Instagram story:
“It was a bittersweet season being on the outside looking in when all I wanted was to be in it with the team. I had to put my pride aside and just watch it unfold. I’m proud and inspired by this squads growth and effort this year.”
The text in the Instagram story was followed by a series of photos: Jarvis Landry, Nick Chubb, Jack Conklin, a group of the defense, special teams, JC Tretter leading the team out of the tunnel, Baker Mayfield, Myles Garrett breaking down a huddle, Kevin Stefanski, Sione Takitaki and Mack Wilson jumping during a torrential downpour, and Rashard Higgins with Donovan Peoples-Jones.
Beckham has been watching from a distance while rehabbing at his home and been posting videos and pictures of his progress on social media.
Beckham suffered a torn ACL in the first quarter of a Week 7 win at Cincinnati and underwent surgery on November 10.
The Browns rallied to beat the Bengals in the final minute on October 25 following Beckham's injury and went on to go 7-3 over the final 10 weeks of the season to finish 11-5 and as the No. 6 seed in the AFC.
Browns executive vice president of football operations and general manager Andrew Berry disagreed with the notion that Cleveland’s offense was better without Beckham on the field.
“In terms of the first half and the second half of the season, I do think that there is an element of our offense just evolved over the course of the year,” Berry said. “Part of that is just chemistry, time on task or you name it. That is really independent of Odell. I have said it multiple times, Odell is a good football player. He acclimated nicely with our program, with Kevin and with his teammates.
“Quite honestly, I just want as many good football players on the roster as possible. He is dynamic.”
Berry was asked how much the Browns offense missed Beckham, who finished the season with 23 catches for 319 yards and three touchdowns in seven games.
“With Odell, you always want to have someone that talented on the field so maybe the easy [answer] is you always miss him,” Berry said. “He is a great player. He is a dynamic weapon. You like having dynamic weapons on the field.”