Odell Beckham Jr. has broken his silence following the Miami Dolphins’ disappointing start to the NFL season, after joining the team in the off-season from the Baltimore Ravens.
OBJ, who’s on a one-year $3 million deal that could rise to $8.25m with incentives, has found himself as the third choice behind Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. Despite this, his game time has been sparse, with Miami’s record dropping to 2-5 after Sunday’s 28-27 loss to the Arizona Cardinals.
Beckham has only started three games, two without Tua Tagovailoa as quarterback, and even when Tagovailoa returned, Beckham’s impact didn’t improve. In those starts, the 31-year-old played just 11 snaps, was targeted three times, and is yet to make his first catch of the 2024 season.
Frustration over his limited role came to a head as he seemed to challenge his team’s strategy and responded to fans’ critiques about his performance. “Tell them when they make the edit… show all,” read Beckham’s cryptic message. “The routessss.. yup Bet,” he added, hinting at his efforts on the field and his underutilization so far.
The franchise has stayed silent on Beckham’s social media outbursts, but head coach Mike McDaniel suggested in his press conference that he shares the sentiment that Beckham should have been more involved. “The snaps that [Beckham] had – not targeted. A couple of them he was the primary [target] but the shell of the defense dictated it. I thought he looked as comfortable as he’s looked,” McDaniel remarked.
“I think Tua sees that on tape. We kind of adjust to what players show us. I thought he was running the best routes.”
OBJ has seen his involvement limited so far this season
Following knee surgery in the off-season, there was a pause before Beckham could play for the Dolphins, which might explain the limited plays he’s been involved in. During his time at the Ravens last season, OBJ appeared 14 times, clocking up 35 receptions for 565 yards and three touchdowns. His influence lessened in the playoffs, with just four catches for 34 yards over two games.
With Tua Tagovailoa back on the squad after his recent concussion problems, all eyes will be on Beckham’s impact in future games. There’s the possibility he’ll shine when facing the Buffalo Bills in the Week 9 game on Sunday. The Bills are currently ahead, with a strong 6-2 record leading the Miami team in the AFC East.