Five days ago wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. didn’t even have a team. But when he joins the Los Angeles Rams for Monday’s game against the San Francisco 49ers, he may have an even bigger role than before.
According to ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter, the Rams have discussed deploying OBJ on punt return packages this Monday. Per the report, they’ve designed several such packages around the Pro Bowl wide receiver.
OBJ was used heavily as a punt returner while he was a member of the New York Giants. In his first three seasons, he made 33 returns and averaged 8.6 yards per return.
But OBJ has largely been removed from that role over the last few years. He has just one punt return since 2019 and just nine since 2017.
As you might expect, the NFL world is a little bit baffled by this move. Some see it as a sign that OBJ is washed or simply relegated to No. 3 receiver status:
Tell me they think he’s a #3 WR without telling me they think he’s a #3 WR https://t.co/HTrobEhMar
— Mike Kearney (@MKPGH) November 14, 2021
And there it is. OBJ gonna be returning some punts https://t.co/89igEYvCnS
— Brent Lancaster (@BrentRamcaster) November 14, 2021
Lol this ain’t gonna go well https://t.co/nrniQeFVVI
— JEFF AXEL da Great (@UnstoppableAX) November 14, 2021
Good & bad thing, he hasn’t done this since ny but good thing is his wiggle is still there https://t.co/EtBWQHHJsj
— 🧟 (@clappedtylerr) November 14, 2021
Others joked that in the wake of the recent injury to star wide receiver Robert Woods, the Rams are setting themselves up to lose another receiver:
they just trying to injure all their wrs, i guess https://t.co/t6IQa17JaP
— MaNjArrA (@Ajmanjarres) November 14, 2021
Have they not watched any tape? Odell does not like to get hit, he’ll be broke in two. https://t.co/cqKY7vaZPB
— Anthony Slabaugh (@tslab7) November 14, 2021
Odell Beckham Jr. was waived by the Cleveland Browns last week after 2.5 years with the team. His production has taken a big dip in that span though.
We’ll find out in just over 24 hours whether that dip will continue now that he’s with the Los Angeles Rams.
The game will be played on Monday at 8:15 p.m. EST and will air on ESPN.
The post NFL World Reacts To Sunday’s Odell Beckham News appeared first on The Spun.
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