Baltimore Ravens newcomer Odell Beckham Jr. figures to play a key role for his squad in the 2023 season, but there was a time when the veteran wasn’t sure if he’d play in the NFL again.
Beckham, who tore his ACL in the 2021 season, recently admitted that he considered retiring after suffering the injury.
“I went through a lot the last couple of years, and I thought it was over,” he said to The Athletic about rehabbing his knee last year. “I didn’t want to get back up on the horse and do the same song and dance all over again.”
One can only imagine how emotionally complex Beckham’s experience was during his championship run with the Los Angeles Rams. He left Super Bowl LVI with his devastating injury in the second quarter, but not before he left his mark on the game.
The wide receiver caught two passes for 52 yards and one crucial touchdown before the injury. He didn’t get to be on the field when his team officially clinched its Super Bowl victory, but he certainly did his part and was emotional on the sidelines upon finally earning his first ring.
An emotional Odell Beckham Jr. on the sideline as the Rams win #SuperBowl LVI.
The LA wide receiver left the game with a leg injury near the end of the first half. pic.twitter.com/AMu19kcR8I
— The Recount (@therecount) February 14, 2022
Beckham didn’t play in the 2022 campaign.
Although the three-time Pro Bowler evidently considered retiring after suffering the injury, he’ll be back in action in less than two months when the Ravens get their 2023 season underway.
Baltimore needed to add some receiving help this offseason and did so by signing Beckham and drafting former Boston College star Zay Flowers. Quarterback Lamar Jackson will have some new weapons to work with moving forward, giving the Ravens a chance to make some noise in the AFC.
Since Beckham hasn’t played since the 2021 season, he may be a bit rusty when the 2023 season begins, but that’s par for the course after a serious injury. The Ravens are certainly hoping that the former first-round pick can look like his pre-injury self by the time the games start to matter a little more in the upcoming campaign.
Beckham may have more seasons behind him than ahead of him, but he’s not calling it quits on his NFL career just yet.
