All-Pro WR released by Dolphins before Week 15 matchup vs. Texans

As Week 15 approaches, the Miami Dolphins are making an aggressive move before taking on the Houston Texans.

Odell Beckham Jr. won’t be finding his way into the end zone at NRG Stadium this Sunday against the Houston Texans.

The former All-Pro receiver and Miami Dolphins mutually agreed to part ways after eight games Thursday evening with four games remaining in the regular season.

The Dolphins announced Friday morning that Beckham was waived. He’ll remain on waivers until Monday, where a team could claim him and pick up the remaining money on his one-year $3 million deal signed this offseason.

This seemed to be in the works leading up to Week 15’s showdown. Beckham missed the past two days of practice, citing “personal reasons” for his absence.

After undergoing knee surgery earlier in the offseason, Beckham started the season on the physically unable to perform list. Once activated, he was used in a limited role, hauling in nine passes for 55 yards in nine games.

When he initially signed, Miami figured the former Super Bowl champion would presumably be the third receiving option behind Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. That never happened since veteran tight end Jonnu Smith emerged as the team’s best option in the red zone.

Since inking a one-year deal this offseason, Smith has totaled 61 catches for 692 yards and five touchdowns.

“Jonnu’s really done a good job of just being another factor in some of those spaces if you’re committing too many resources to the outside part of the field, or whatever,” Texans defensive coordinator Matt Burke said Thursday. “He’s a good enough athlete, he always has been, that they interchange those positions.

“He’s another good athlete that can create matchup problems for you. So, we’re going to be at the task, but it’s a challenge for us to matchup with all of those guys and keep them from, again, like I said, getting into open space.”

The Dolphins have also gotten exceptional play out of rookie receiver Malik Washington and veteran receiver River Cracraft in short throws and on special teams. Running back De’Von Achane also is a factor in the passing attack for a surging Tua Tagovailoa.

Miami has won four of its past five games heading into Sunday. With a win and a Colts’ lost, the Texans would clinch a second consecutive AFC South divisional title.