Kelly: Dolphins debating if Odell Beckham Jr. is healthy enough to start season on field | Opinion
If there was ever a time the Miami Dolphins needed a healthy, spry and dangerous Odell Beckham Jr. to grace the football field with his presence it’s now.
Problem is, it has been years since that Beckham has played an NFL game. But if the 31-year-old was ever going to resurrect his once-sensational career it’s now because the Dolphins have reached the panic level at receiver because of injuries that have decimated the unit.
All-Pro receiver Tyreek Hill has a hand injury that prevented him from catching passes for at least a week.
Jaylen Waddle has been on the sidelines for three weeks until Monday when he participated in practices with a red jersey, which means the player shouldn’t be hit. He was also wearing a compression sleeve on his left leg.
Making matters worse is the fact River Cracraft’s headed to injured reserve with a shoulder injury that might keep him out most of the season. Anthony Schwartz was placed on injury reserve because of an ACL injury he sustained on Friday, and Erik Ezukanma isn’t practicing with what appears to be a left leg or foot injury he sustained in last Wednesday’s joint practice.
All those injuries have left the Dolphins one healthy veteran, Braxton Berrios, one decent rookie in Malik Washington, who had an impressive preseason finale on Friday night, and a whole bunch of journeymen expected to be cut, who are practice squad options.
Miami’s desperation level might be why head coach Mike McDaniel wouldn’t commit to Beckham, who hasn’t participated in a single practice this offseason and training camp, beginning the year on the reserve physically unable to perform list.
That decision has to be made by 4 p.m. on Tuesday, and there are tons of financial ramifications. Beckham signed a one-year contract that features a $3 million base salary and is heavy on incentives. He can earn an additional $5 million based on how many passes he catches, yards he produces and touchdowns scored.
Tuesday’s decision likely comes down to whether Miami’s doctors and trainers clear Beckham to participate in practice despite his mystery ailment.
“He can’t jump out there with a cape on without practicing at all,” McDaniel said when asked about Beckham’s status for the Sept. 8 season opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars. “You make sure they progress and get back on the field as fast as their body allows them to. Then you allow the comfort level of the player to dictate when he plays.”
Problem is, even if he’s added to the 53-man roster, Tua Tagovailoa openly admits he has no chemistry with Beckham because they haven’t run a single route with one another.
How long would it take the Tagovailoa, who is known as one of the NFL’s best precision passers, and openly admits he throws to spots where receivers should be on a regular basis, to develop a bond with Beckham, who is respected for his route running?
To Beckham’s credit, he’s playing in a similar offense going back to his 2021 season, where he ended the season with the Los Angeles Rams and won a Super Bowl. And the Dolphins claim he has been a scholar in the meeting room. But it all comes down to on the field chemistry.
“I haven’t gotten reps with him, and that’s just the honest truth. Now, if [Beckham] isn’t on the PUP list, he clears everything and we’re able to get out there, that’s one of the first things I want to do. Routes on air,” said Tagovailoa, who led the NFL in passer rating in 2022 and yards passed for in 2023. “I need to make sure I get as many reps with him. If he’s going to go in for this rep, let’s make sure that he’s going to get the ball…. I want to make sure the timing is good.”
Even if it takes Beckham a week, or a month to get up to speed, Tagovailoa is confident he will be fine with whoever takes the field at receiver for the Dolphins.
Tagovailoa pointed out he has done more with less in past years, bringing up his 2020 receiver unit, which was initially made up of DeVante Parker, Preston Williams, Lynn Bowden Jr., Albert Wilson and Mack Hollins, but got decimated by injuries as the year progressed.
“Guys get injured and whoever [is out there] that’s who we’ve got to play with,” Tagovailoa said, shortly after pointing out that the Dolphins could lean on the two tight end package, which features Durham Smythe and Jonnu Smith. “We’ve got to just go out there and find a way to make it work.”
This story was originally published August 26, 2024 at 2:53 PM.
