Odell Beckham Jr. will be eligible to come off the physically unable to perform (PUP) list next week and Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel is feeling good about the veteran receiver’s chances at making his debut with the team sooner rather than later.
“I’ve seen some good progress and I’m optimistic for when his window [to return from the PUP list] opens up,” McDaniel said Tuesday. “We will see how his body responds. I do know that there’s been some very intentional, good work and he hasn’t had the setbacks which we’ve made sure to avoid.”
Beckham, 31, reportedly had on offseason procedure that the Dolphins were aware of when they signed him in May. While the nature of the injury and the procedure hasn’t been disclosed, it has kept him from even practicing with the team since he was added to the roster.
According to Dolphins general manager Chris Grier, Beckham did not want to stay on the PUP list at the end of the preseason, but the team’s front office, coaches, and trainers opted to keep him off the 53-man roster to begin the year.
Beckham’s one-year deal with the team doesn’t exactly reward the receiver for being patient in his recovery. While he could collect as much as $8.25 from the Dolphins, he’ll only get $3 million if he can’t eclipse the stats he put up last year with the Baltimore Ravens. Watching games from the sideline isn’t doing him any favors.
Players on the PUP list are required to miss at least four games. After their Week 4 game against the Tennessee Titans, the Dolphins can open up a 21-day window for Beckham to begin practicing with the team without counting against their 53-man roster limit. At any point in time during that three-week period, Beckham can be moved to the active roster.
Beckham, who earned Pro Bowl nods in his first three NFL seasons, has 566 career receptions for 7,932 yards and 59 touchdowns. He also has a rushing touchdown and two passing touchdowns.
