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BEREA, Ohio – Odell Beckham Jr. is listed as questionable for Sunday’s opening game in Kansas City with his ACL recovery, but there’s no chance he will miss that game.
The receiver has circled him on his schedule since the schedule was released, especially because he had to miss the 22-17 divisional-round loss to the Chiefs while recovering from his torn ACL.
Beckham did not make himself available to the media this week for some reason, but made it clear at his youth football camp in Gates Mills, Ohio in late July – the only time he has spoken publicly since the operation. in November – how difficult it was to watch that loss to the Chiefs, knowing he could have made the difference.
“I came back for a reason,” he said that morning Sunday morning at the Gilmour Academy. “I feel like we have a special opportunity. I was in Austin with [Baker Mayfield] and see him several times since, just hit him, hang out. It’s just something special for this team. Like I said when I got here, I wanted it to be like the Patriots.
“You want to win Super Bowls. I watched [my teammates] in competition last year, and the game that hurt me the most is watching Kansas City and saying “Man, I know I could’ve made a game”, just something to help the team. ”
Since then, Beckham has worked tirelessly to be ready for Game 1 and to help the Browns win the Super Bowl this season. An eighth-year pro, he’s only made one playoff game in his entire career – a 38-13 loss to the Packers in 2016, in which he caught just four passes for 28 yards.
Beckham now knows how precious the playoffs are, how winning everything is the most important thing.
“The only reason to do it is to get one of them,” he said. “All the reason. “
Beckham has put in countless hours of blood, sweat and tears to get ready for the start of this season, and he looks amazing in the limited work he’s had. Coach Kevin Stefanski admitted on Friday that Beckham did not have full contact with the ground or was not hit in the knee, but he also said he did not suffer a setback.
If all goes according to plan, Beckham will start against the Chiefs and play as much as he can.
The Browns will be smart with him and all the other players who got injured, like goalie Grant Delpit, who is also questionable after his Achilles break last season and a hamstring injury from training camp.
Offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt noted that Beckham stepped up for the Chiefs in team drills, which are closed to media. In individual drills, side work with Mayfield, and pre-qualifying practice he showed his speed, cutting ability and excellent hands.
Van Pelt pointed out that Beckham definitely still has his blazing speed.
“There is no doubt,” Van Pelt said. “He’s powerful and explosive when he starts running, and he digs. He can fly. Having that speed back on the pitch, we look forward to it. “
Kareem Hunt corroborated this.
“I’m really excited to see him come back,” he said. “He looks great – very explosive, fast and excellent hands. He looks like he’s never hurt himself. I can’t wait to see what he brings.
At this point, the only thing stopping Beckham from playing is an unforeseen backhand or hamstring injury. He missed a chance to play against the team that won the Super Bowl two years ago and lost it last year, and he’s not about to miss it.
Jadeveon Clowney’s return a big boost
Clowney returned to training on Friday after missing Wednesday and Thursday due to unspecified illness. He looked quick and explosive in the individual drills, and ready to start KC against Myles Garrett. Like Beckham, he’s listed as questionable, but there’s no doubt he’ll play unless he relapses.
“I’m really glad he’s back – will never short sell,” Garrett said. “I wasn’t playing with Clowney last year or my first three years so if anything happens I won’t be afraid to take up the challenge with the rest of the guys in the locker room because I know they’re everything. also prepared. “
Takk McKinley was set to replace Clowney and will be the third defensive end of the rotation despite being out of camp for three weeks.
“He did a good job there, how attentive he is to procedures, in the boardroom and coming out here on the training ground and playing really fast,” Stefanski said. “He did a good job. “
McKinley, a pure sprinter, makes a nice change of pace from the bigger, more thunderous Garrett and Clowney. The three, and everyone on the line, will try to take advantage of newcomers to the line from the Chiefs, many of whom have never taken an NFL snapshot.
“They’re new, but they have some good players in their line,” said Garrett. “Don’t sell them short. I’m not going to take them for granted. We have to go there thinking that they are doing the same kind of work as us. We’re going to go out there and test them, but we have to be sharp before we can go there and achieve the performance that we want. “
Kansas City Chiefs safety Tyrann Mathieu and Cleveland Browns wide receiver Jarvis Landry both attempt to grab a pass in the air in the second half of their AFC Division playoff game. The ball fell to the ground before either sofa grabbed it. Joshua Gunter, cleveland.com
Descent on the wire for the safety of the Chiefs Tyrann Mathieu
The Chiefs could face the Browns without one of their best defensive players in the three-time safety of first-team All-Pro Tyrann Mathieu, who is still in the COVID-19 reserve and running out of time.
Mathieu, who is fully vaccinated, must be activated by 4 p.m. EDT on Saturday to be eligible to play, and for that to happen he must have tested negative twice within 24 hours. It is not known whether he tested negative on Friday, although Chiefs coach Andy Reid said on Wednesday his tests were improving.
For the Chiefs, losing Mathieu would be a big blow. He is the leader of their secondary and the inspiring leader of the unit. In the playoff win over the Browns, he led the team with seven tackles, one for a loss, and knocked out Baker Mayfield on a pass to Jarvis Landry in the third quarter.
If Mathieu can’t play, safety back Daniel Sorensen will likely make the side calls. In the playoff win over the Browns, Sorensen made six tackles, a quarterback hit and forced a fumble.
“We’re just going to see how it goes,” Reid told Chiefs reporters on Friday. “We have the other guys [who] have practiced and they are good to go. If he can’t go, then he can’t. If he can go, then he can.
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