Odell Beckham Jr. and the Cleveland Browns are clearly in a contentious place. Beckham was absent from practice on Wednesday due to personal reasons, according to the team.
The decision was team-related, per Yahoo! reporter Charles Robinson. Beckham had been ready to practice until he was excused from the session, according to USA TODAY’s Josina Anderson.
The receiver’s father posted a lengthy video on Tuesday of Beckham on the field looking wide open but not getting targetted during his stint in Cleveland. It seemed like an effort to get his son traded at the deadline. The Browns explored options but didn’t pull the trigger.
I'm told #Browns WR Odell Beckham Jr. has been told he's excused from practice today, per league source. Additionally, it is my understanding that OBJ was ready to attend practice per usual.
— IG: JosinaAnderson (@JosinaAnderson) November 3, 2021
Source close to #Browns Odell Beckham Jr. said the wideout will not practice today and that the decision was “team-related”. @JosinaAnderson reports Beckham Jr. was ready to practice and the team told him he was “excused” from attending. This appears to be a crossroads.
— Charles Robinson (@CharlesRobinson) November 3, 2021
#Browns WR Odell Beckham Jr is listed as a DNP for practice today due to a non-injury related personal matter (along with a previous shoulder injury).
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 3, 2021
With the trade deadline coming and going, Beckham cannot get traded until this offseason. If the Browns released him, he would hit waivers, where teams could claim him on his current contract. If waived and no team claimed him, his deal would toll on Cleveland’s salary cap and he would be a free agent.