USATSI
Coming off his quietest game of the season, Odell Beckham Jr. is getting some support from another star who knows a little bit about playing in Cleveland: LeBron James.
Beckham Jr. recorded just one reception for six yards on his lone target Sunday in a 15-10 home loss to the Steelers. OBJ has 17 catches for 232 yards and no touchdowns this season, and he has two or fewer catches in four of the six games.
The recent stretch continues what has been a rocky time for Beckham Jr. since arriving in Cleveland in 2019. He posted over 1,000 yards in his first year with the Browns but was off to a slow start in 2020 before suffering a torn ACL in late October. He missed the first two games of this season before returning in Week 3.
James has supported Beckham Jr. for several years, going back to the wide receiver’s days with the New York Giants.
It’s unclear what James meant — and what the Browns could do — to actually #FreeOBJ. Cleveland is unlikely to trade their disgruntled wide receiver before the 4 p.m. ET trade deadline Tuesday, according to ESPN’s Dianna Russini.
Beckham Jr. is under contract through 2023, though the contract carries no guaranteed money in 2022 or 2023, according to Over The Cap.
After winning 11 games last season — their most since 1994 — the Browns had high expectations entering this campaign. But after losing three of their last four games, the Browns sit at 4-4 and are currently the No. 10 seed in the AFC. They play at the Bengals on Sunday.
It’s been an eventful Tuesday for the team, to say the least. Beckham Jr.’s father, Odell Sr., posted a video on Instagram ripping Browns QB Baker Mayfield for not finding Beckham Jr. when he’s open.
Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski addressed Beckham Jr.’s struggles as well, saying, “I would tell you first and foremost, I need to do a better job. I really do. I need to make sure that I put him in position to make some plays, and I did not do a good enough job.”
