Odell Beckham Jr. on Loss to 49ers in Rams Debut: 'It Just Wasn't Our Night'
Nov 16, 2021
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. (3) jogs on the field during the first half of an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers in Santa Clara, Calif., Monday, Nov. 15, 2021. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)
Odell Beckham Jr.'s first game as a member of the Los Angeles Rams was one that both sides would like to forget.
Beckham, who had just two catches for 18 yards, told reporters after the 31-10 loss to the San Francisco 49ers that "it just wasn't our night."
"They played better than us in all phases of the game," he added. "They just outplayed us."
Beckham was thrust into action perhaps sooner than expected after signing with the Rams on Thursday.
Head coach Sean McVay told reporters Saturday that Robert Woods, the team's second-leading receiver with 556 yards, tore his ACL during practice and will miss the remainder of the season.
Given the limited practice time Beckham had with the team, he wasn't used extensively Monday night, as the three-time Pro Bowler only played 15 snaps and was targeted three times.
Very little worked for Los Angeles in its second consecutive loss, as Matthew Stafford threw interceptions on the first two offensive possessions of the game, including a pick-six to Jimmie Ward.
Per ESPN Stats & Info (h/t Lindsey Thiry), the Rams' five dropped passes were their most in a game since 2013. The defense also allowed San Francisco to run for 156 yards on 44 carries.
The 49ers, meanwhile, converted nine of their 16 third- and fourth-down attempts.
There's no reason for the Rams to panic at this point. They are still the No. 5 seed in the NFC playoffs and only trail the Arizona Cardinals by one game in the NFC West.
Beckham should play a much bigger role in the offense going forward, and he will have plenty of time to get acclimated to the playbook with the Rams on a bye week.
Los Angeles' next game is against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on Nov. 28.
Star-Studded Rams Have Major Flaws Exposed vs. 49ers in OBJ, Von Miller's Debut
Nov 16, 2021
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 15: Von Miller #40 of the Los Angeles Rams goes to tackle in the first half against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium on November 15, 2021 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
The Los Angeles Rams may be all-in this season, but Sean McVay and Co. better figure who they actually are before any of their headline-grabbing moves actually matter.
With Monday's 31-10 loss to the rival San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium, the Rams have now dropped two in a row with major flaws running the risk of ruining any potential hope of a Super Bowl run. Make no mistake: The Rams are operating on a different standard after the investments they made with multiple high-profile acquisitions.
The organization sent two first-round picks, a third-round selection and former starting quarterback Jared Goff to the Detroit Lions because Matthew Stafford was supposed to be everything McVay wanted in a quarterback for the Rams' offensive scheme. Stafford was, for a time. He's now playing with the same rollercoaster energy that marred his 12 seasons in Motown.
Within the last two weeks, general manager Les Snead traded for outside linebacker Von Miller and signed recently released wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. as a free agent. Both debuted Monday. Neither provided much in their first appearance with the Rams.
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 15: Odell Beckham Jr. #3 of the Los Angeles Rams prepares to go onto the field during the second half in the game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium on November 15, 2021 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo
All of these moves overshadowed the fact the Rams aren't particularly tough in the trenches on either side of the ball nor built to handle bigger, more physical teams. Furthermore, Stafford gets rattled when he makes mistakes or the team gets down early.
Over the last two contests, the Tennessee Titans and Niners manhandled the Rams. A blueprint has been laid forth for future opponents. Not everyone can bring the same type of skill set as the previous two adversaries, but their efforts showed the Rams are far from infallible and more susceptible than they appeared to be during their 7-1 start to the 2021 campaign.
"I choose to believe that these last couple of weeks aren't who we are. I refuse to believe that," McVay said after the contest.
He added, "Our best players didn't play up to our standards."
Some type of transition should be expected any time new additions are made, particularly during the middle of a season. What happened Monday isn't a fair assessment of what Miller and Beckham can eventually bring to the table.
Miller had a little more time to prepare himself for his first start with the Rams, but he didn't look like the same explosive edge defender everyone grew accustomed to watching during his time with the Denver Broncos. He's still an excellent player and his comfort level will grow as the newness of the situation wears off over the next few weeks. He'll also be given more opportunities to rush the passer.
Beckham's transition may take a little longer, though Los Angeles will need his services more than expected after Robert Woods suffered a torn ACL during a Nov. 12 practice session. The squad's new receiver played only 15 snaps with two catches for 18 yards, per ESPN's Mike Clay. One of the game's biggest moments occurred on the Rams' initial drive when quarterback and receiver weren't on the same page with Stafford throwing into double-coverage for an easy 49ers interception.
Jimmie Ward intercepts the deep pass for the @49ers defense! #FTTB
Somewhere Baker Mayfield is slowly nodding his head. But the truth of the matter is the two have had barely any time to worth together and a rapport isn't automatic. Beckham's previous experience can certainly attest to that fact.
Still, it's far too early to make any type of assertions regarding what the Rams' latest additions will be. In the immediacy, the coaching staff must address the fact they were simply whooped at the point of attack for two straight weeks.
Los Angeles' defense fared much better against the Derrick Henry-less Titans and held their offense to 69 rushing yards per attempt and 2.7 yards per carry. The other side of the ball is another matter altogether. Tennessee's defensive line trio Jeffrey Simmons, Denico Autry and Harold Landry III terrorized the Rams' front five and the person they're supposed to protect. The Titans sacked Stafford five times with 11 more quarterback hits.
Protection issues continued against the 49ers. San Francisco wasn't quite as effective applying pressure, but the front seven consistently disrupted plays and reestablished the line of scrimmage.
Part of the issue stems from the Rams' approach. No team employs 11 personnel (one running back, one tight end and three wide receivers) more. McVay asks his wide receivers to be a big part of the blocking scheme, either in the run game or on manufactured touches in the passing game. Those types of plays aren't nearly as effective when defensive linemen are consistently winning their one-on-ones and getting into the backfield.
The head coach/play-caller isn't going to drastically change his approach. This is who the Rams are. It falls on those up front—left tackle Andrew Whitworth, left guard David Edwards, center Brian Allen, right guard Austen Corbett and right tackle Rob Havenstein—to hold their ground even when they're placed in difficult situations against elite defensive linemen.
Stafford can be rather good at improvising. But he'll also start to press when things begin to break down around him. When he does, turnovers and poor decisions often come to light.
From a larger point of view, the Rams are built to play from ahead. Keep in mind, the Rams fell behind 24-7 in the third quarter to the same 49ers team that lost 31-17 to the Colt McCoy-led Arizona Cardinals in Week 9.
"We've got to find out," 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters when asked last week what's wrong with his defense. "It was extremely disappointing.
"I don't think we tackled very well. I didn't think we had 11 guys swarming to the ball enough. I think we made it pretty easy on those guys."
San Francisco made their adjustments, flew to the football and arrived with nasty intentions throughout Monday's contest. The same can't be said of Los Angeles' defense. In fact, the exact opposite happened. They were repeatedly punched in the mouth by the 49ers and failed to make the proper adjustments or play with the type of physicality necessary to offset the approach.
The 49ers' coaching staff made running the ball at least 40 times an emphasis throughout the week. Ultimately, San Francisco pounded the rock 44 times for 156 yards. They varied it up, too. They ran their outside zone, put wide receiver Deebo Samuel in the backfield at times and threw in some misdirection. But their success came down to one thing: The 49ers were the more physical team. Watch as tight end George Kittle obliterated Miller:
The above is one example of what the 49ers are built to do while simultaneously showing how the Rams struggle when facing a bigger, more aggressive opponent.
Aaron Donald is awesome in the middle of the Rams defense. He can't do everything, though. Others need to win matchups, get into the backfield and make plays. Some need to set the edge. Linebackers must read their keys and not get hung up on blocks. The approach of playing lighter boxes only works if individuals do their jobs and not lose gap responsibilities and/or pass-rush lanes. The Rams aren't doing the little things at the moment and it shows in how they've been handled as of late.
Fortunately for McVay's squad, the playoff picture has never been more muddled. No elite teams exist on either side of the ledger. The 7-3 Rams are still a top-four seed in the NFC as they enter their bye week with an opportunity to heal, build some chemistry and improve upon areas that were exposed during the last two contests.
"I don't see heads down in the locker room," Beckham told reporters.
If the Rams don't come out of their week off refreshed and far more physical on both sides of the ball, their all-in bet this year will go worse than it did for Teddy KGB in the cult hit "Rounders."
Brent Sobleski covers the NFL for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter,@brentsobleski.
Jimmy Garoppolo, 49ers Rout Matthew Stafford, Rams in Odell Beckham Jr.'s Debut
Nov 16, 2021
San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle, right, celebrates after catching a touchdown pass against the Los Angeles Rams during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Monday, Nov. 15, 2021. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)
The San Francisco 49ers may be finding their footing.
San Francisco defeated the Los Angeles Rams 31-10 in Monday's NFC West showdown at Levi's Stadium. Jimmy Garoppolo, Deebo Samuel and the defense led the way for the victors, who improved to 4-5 overall but 2-1 in their last three games.
Matthew Stafford threw two interceptions in the losing effort for the 7-3 Rams, who have now lost two in a row and are one game behind the Arizona Cardinals in the division.
Notable Player Stats
Jimmy Garoppolo, QB, SF: 15-of-19 passing for 182 yards, 2 TDs, 0 INTs
Deebo Samuel, WR, SF: 5 catches for 97 yards, 1 TD; 5 carries for 36 yards, 1 TD
George Kittle, TE, SF: 5 catches for 50 yards, 1 TD
Matthew Stafford, QB, LA: 26-of-41 passing for 243 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs
Cooper Kupp, WR, LA: 11 catches for 122 yards
49ers Use Ball Control, Efficiency to Put on Offensive Show
San Francisco is stuck in the middle of what could be a transitional period for the franchise with Trey Lance waiting in the wings and Garoppolo under center trying to lead the team back into the playoff picture in the NFC.
Monday was an opportunity to move one game back of the Carolina Panthers in the win column in the race for the final postseason spot, so Garoppolo got the call. All he did was direct two of the most impressive drives of the season right out of the gate to stake the home team to a commanding 14-point halftime lead.
The first drive was a thing of beauty at 18 plays and 93 yards. Elijah Mitchell, Samuel and Jeff Wilson Jr. set the tone with the rushing attack, and Garoppolo exploited the openings underneath while completing all five of his passes and a touchdown strike to George Kittle.
The formula remained the same on the second drive when Garoppolo completed all three of his passes as part of an 11-play, 91-yard march that ended with Samuel playing the role of running back and scoring with his legs.
San Francisco's methodical efficiency was almost alarming given all the star power on the Rams defense, and Robbie Gould picked up the slack with a 50-yard field goal when the offense finally started to stall in the second half.
Fittingly, it was another short pass over the middle that broke the game completely open in the final quarter when Garoppolo converted a 4th-and-6 to Samuel, who then turned on the jets and blew past multiple Rams defenders in the open field.
It was yet another example of the San Francisco offense capitalizing on its opportunities and preventing its dangerous Los Angeles counterpart from establishing a rhythm because it was on the sidelines for so long. The 49ers finished with more than 39 minutes of possession and put on an absolute clinic while controlling the entire game.
Mistake-Filled Performance Costs Rams Offense
The Rams debut of headline players in Odell Beckham Jr. and Von Miller was the headline entering play, but this was also a critical game for the team's pursuit of the No. 1 seed in the NFC with daunting road matchups against the Green Bay Packers, Cardinals, Minnesota Vikings and Baltimore Ravens looming.
Los Angeles needs to beat the under .500 teams on its schedule, but it was anything but dialed in from the start.
Beckham and Stafford weren't on the same page when the quarterback threw an inexplicable deep ball that Jimmie Ward picked off on the first possession. Ward wasn't done impacting the game and returned his second interception for a touchdown after Stafford's screen pass to Tyler Higbee bounced off the tight end's hands and into the air.
Higbee at least made up for his blunder by catching a touchdown pass, but the Rams stumbled into the locker room facing a 21-7 deficit after their fake field goal went awry and ended a promising drive before halftime.
Somehow things got even worse for the visitors in the second half as they went three-and-out on their first three possessions. Cooper Kupp and Higbee each had a critical drop on third downs as the game slipped away with the 49ers controlling possession on offense and forcing mistakes on defense.
Van Jefferson also dropped a touchdown pass in the fourth quarter as things continued to unravel.
It was more of the same for a Rams team that also struggled in its last loss to the Tennessee Titans, which is perhaps reason for concern in the close NFC West race. There is only so much room for error at this time of the year, and Los Angeles is trending in the wrong direction.
What's Next?
The 49ers hit the road to face the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 11, while the Rams are on a bye ahead of their road trip to face the Packers in Week 12.
Rams' Odell Beckham Jr. Says Every Detail of Browns Release Was 'Crazy' to Him
Nov 16, 2021
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. warms up before an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers in Santa Clara, Calif., Monday, Nov. 15, 2021. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)
After being released by the Cleveland Browns last week, Los Angeles Rams receiver Odell Beckham Jr. made his team debut Monday night against the San Francisco 49ers.
But according to Lisa Salters on ESPN's Monday Night Football broadcast, it was never Beckham's desire to be on a new team this season.
"He told me he didn't really want to talk about what happened in Cleveland and what led to his release there, but he did say every detail of it was crazy to him," Salters said. "He said, 'I don't have words for it, it stinks, it was never intended,' and he said he never could've envisioned any of it.
"Beckham said he doesn't blame anyone, he enjoyed his time in Cleveland, which led to the handwritten goodbye letter to the city that he posted on social media."
Beckham did not part ways with Cleveland amicably. After a tenure of two-plus seasons that failed to reach expectations, things boiled over when Beckham's father, Odell Beckham Sr., posted an Instagram video showing Cleveland quarterback Baker Mayfield failing to throw to the eighth-year receiver. Beckham was then excused from practice while the Browns worked toward releasing him.
Beckham signed with Los Angeles on Thursday for one year and up to $4.25 million, per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.
"Odell had been wanting to play for the Rams since Sean McVay got there," Fox Sports' Jay Glazer reported Thursday. "Even after he got traded to Cleveland, he was still going, 'Can I still get traded to the Rams?' Like, 'No, dude, it doesn't work like that.'"
While Beckham seems to have had a change of heart, the reality is that he's now on a team that is considered to be a top contender to represent the NFC in Super Bowl LVI. After Los Angeles lost receiver Robert Woods to a torn ACL during this week's practice, the addition of Beckham will be important to the team's success going forward.
NFL Rumors: Odell Beckham Jr. 'Changed His Mind Multiple Times' Before Rams Decision
Nov 15, 2021
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. runs a pass route during NFL football practice Saturday, Nov. 13, 2021, in Thousand Oaks, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Odell Beckham Jr. eventually chose the Los Angeles Rams once he became a free agent, but they reportedly weren't always his first choice, per Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk.
"Beckham changed his mind multiple times," Florio wrote. "He wanted to be claimed on waivers by the Seahawks. He wanted to sign with the Saints. As of Wednesday, he was telling some former Browns teammates that he would sign with the Chiefs."
Beckham was waived by the Cleveland Browns last Monday and went unclaimed on waivers, giving him the ability to sign with any team. After taking a few days with his decision, he signed with the Rams on a reported one-year deal worth up to $4.25 million, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.
"I took a lot of time in the decision-making, and it wasn't to build anticipation or nothing," Beckham told reporters Saturday. "This is my life and I feel like I've been through a lot. I'm at a point in my life where I'm ready to play football, I've dedicated, I've sacrificed a lot to be here. It just happened that this felt right in my heart and in my soul."
Jay Glazer of Fox Sports reported Beckham was "pursuing the Rams," partially because he could make more off the field in the Los Angeles market.
There were still plenty of choices for the receiver, with Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reporting the Kansas City Chiefs, New England Patriots, Seattle Seahawks, New Orleans Saints and Green Bay Packers all made offers along with the Rams, while the Pittsburgh Steelers also called late in the process.
"He loved the recruiting aspect of it," a source told Florio.
The Rams eventually did enough to lure the three-time Pro Bowler, who will try to help the 7-2 squad contend for a title. Beckham has appeared in just one playoff game in his career and is hoping to add to that total with a deep run this season.
Odell Beckham Jr. Rumors: Rams' McVay Was 'Upfront' He Wouldn't Guarantee WR Targets
Nov 15, 2021
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. fields questions after NFL football practice Saturday, Nov. 13, 2021, in Thousand Oaks, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Odell Beckham Jr. may wind up getting a ton of targets in Los Angeles now that Robert Woods is out for the season, but that was no guarantee when he initially signed with the Rams.
Peter King of NBC Sports reported head coach Sean McVay was "upfront" in telling Beckham that the wide receiver would not be force-fed a certain number of targets from starting quarterback Matthew Stafford.
"But I can tell you if you’re open, Matthew will get you the ball,” McVay said.
Beckham signed a one-year, $4.5 million deal with the Rams last week, a move that came as a shock to the football world because Los Angeles was not considered a prime candidate. The three-time Pro Bowler was seemingly destined to sit No. 3 on the depth chart, but Woods suffered a torn ACL that will thrust Beckham into the spotlight early.
The Rams (7-2) have had one of the most dynamic passing offenses this season, a far cry from the run-and-play-action outfit he dealt with in Cleveland.
“Stafford is night-and-day different from Baker (Mayfield)—night and an extra day,” a coach told The Athletic's Mike Sando. “Stafford can get it to whoever he has to get it to, he can make every throw, he can drop back and pass. Baker played well against Cincinnati, they jumped all over them, but you look at it, a lot of play-action, running game was going, they jumped on him, it was over.”
It's also possible that Beckham winds up contributing on special teams, particularly as a punt returner (he last did so with the Browns two years ago). The Rams may not have guaranteed a certain number of targets, but he's going to have more opportunities to get the ball in his hands simply by proxy of playing in a better offense.
Aaron Rodgers: 'I Feel Good' That Packers Were in the Mix to Sign Odell Beckham Jr.
Nov 15, 2021
Green Bay Packers' Aaron Rodgers looks at the sc oreboard during the second half of an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks Sunday, Nov. 14, 2021, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)
Before Odell Beckham Jr. chose to sign with the Los Angeles Rams, the Green Bay Packers were among the teams in final contention to land the three-time Pro Bowl receiver.
Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers told reporters after Sunday's win over the Seattle Seahawks that he understood the team's salary-cap situation would've made it difficult to sign Beckham.
"I think that we are obviously limited with our salary-cap situation," Rodgers said. "I'm not sure what he ended up signing for, but I've been friends with Odell for a long time and have so much respect for his talent and his ability, and I wish him the absolute best in L.A.
"I think there was a lot of conversations around bringing him in, and for whatever reason it just wasn't the right fit. But I feel good about the fact that we were in the mix."
Rodgers, who missed last week's game after testing positive for COVID-19, completed 23-of-37 for 292 yards and an interception in his return.
The Packers lost starting running back Aaron Jones to a knee injury, and second-year bulldozer AJ Dillon stepped in with two rushing touchdowns. Green Bay improved to 8-2 with the victory and will face NFC North rival Minnesota Vikings next Sunday.
After being released by the Cleveland Browns last week, Beckham signed with Los Angeles on Thursday on a reported one-year deal worth up to $4.25 million. He reportedly received a $500,000 signing bonus and will receive $750,000 for the rest of the season while another $3 million is available in team-based incentives for how the Rams finish the regular season and the postseason.
The eighth-year receiver suffered a torn ACL midway through the 2020 season and returned in Week 3, recording 17 catches for 232 yards with no touchdowns in six games.
ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Sunday that Beckham could see time as a punt returner in his Los Angeles debut during Monday night's game against the San Francisco 49ers. The Rams (7-2) will be looking to bounce back from last week's loss to the Tennessee Titans, which ended a four-game winning streak.
Fantasy Alert: Ben Skowronek Expected to Replace Injured Robert Woods in Rams Offense
Nov 14, 2021
HOUSTON, TEXAS - OCTOBER 31: Ben Skowronek #18 of the Los Angeles Rams catches the ball and avoids a tackle by Terrance Mitchell #39 of the Houston Texans during the second half at NRG Stadium on October 31, 2021 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)
Fox Sports' Jay Glazer reported Sunday that Ben Skowronek is expected to replace Robert Woods in the Los Angeles Rams starting lineup on Monday, after the veteran wideout tore his ACL on Friday.
Glazer added that new addition Odell Beckham Jr. would have a package in place for the matchup against the San Francisco 49ers but wouldn't be taking over Woods' starting spot.
"You're sick for Robert," head coach Sean McVay told reporters on Saturday. "He's epitomized everything that's been right about this place. Such a great competitor. Such a tough player. Such a great football player, great person. It's so unfortunate."
Skowronek, a 24-year-old rookie drafted in the seventh round by the Rams, has caught all of three passes for 30 yards this season. He's also served as a kick returner for the team.
Suffice to say, you don't want to start him unless you are in dire straits at wide receiver. He may be given Woods' starting role on Monday, but it's hard to imagine Stafford trusting the inexperienced wideout with players like Cooper Kupp, Beckham, Van Jefferson and tight end Tyler Higbee at his disposal.
"You don't ever replace a player like Robert Woods, but you do have to adjust and adapt accordingly," McVay told reporters. "Because him, Cooper...what these guys have been able to do is very unique in all the different ways they contribute to the offense, not exclusive to when they touch the ball."
In the short term, turning to Beckham is risky. He has less than a week with the Rams and surely will only be utilized in a limited fashion in his first game. Absorbing an NFL playbook in only a few days is no small task.
"You can see he's a really sharp guy," McVay told reporters regarding Beckham. "Like the look in his eye, and we'll see how he's feeling. We'll see what that looks like if we're able to utilize him, if he's able to go on Monday."
In the long term, however, Beckham's fantasy stock obviously rises with Woods out of action. He'll be the long-term starter opposite of Kupp in a Rams offense throwing for 296.3 yards per game, third in the NFL. He'll also be playing with arguably the best quarterback he's ever been paired with in Matthew Stafford, and one of the NFL's sharpest offensive minds in McVay.
Skowronek will reportedly get the start Monday, but it's hard to imagine him holding on to the role beyond that. Even if he does, the majority of the targets are going to go elsewhere.
NFL Rumors: Odell Beckham Jr. Pursued Rams for LA-Market Money; Jalen Ramsey Assisted
Nov 14, 2021
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. fields questions after NFL football practice Saturday, Nov. 13, 2021, in Thousand Oaks, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Rams cornerback Jalen Ramsey reportedly played a significant role in getting Odell Beckham Jr. to Los Angeles.
According to Fox Sports' Jay Glazer, Ramsey approached head coach Sean McVay about the possibility of signing Beckham. The former Cleveland Browns wide receiver also wanted to join the Rams because of the opportunity to make more money off the field in L.A.
Glazer adds that Beckham hopes Los Angeles ends up being his "long-term home."
Beckham was released by the Cleveland Browns last week, and he signed a one-year contract with the Rams on Thursday.
The 29-year-old's fallout with the Browns was accelerated when his father, Odell Beckham Sr., posted a video showing times when quarterback Baker Mayfield missed his son when he was wide open or didn't throw the ball to him at all.
Beckham reportedly never apologized or approached Mayfield about the video, per ESPN's Jake Trotter. The veteran receiver also reportedly stressed out Mayfield and made him indecisive.
Despite all that went down in Cleveland, Beckham still took the time to thank the Browns for the opportunity to play for the franchise in a social media post on Saturday. He also gave a special shoutout to Jarvis Landry, whom he played with at LSU.
After his first practice with the Rams on Friday, Beckham acknowledged Ramsey and linebacker Von Miller recruited him to the franchise. He also told reporters that signing with the Rams "felt right in my heart and in my soul."
Beckham is reportedly set to make his Rams' debut Monday night against the San Francisco 49ers, per ESPN's Adam Schefter. His acclimation to McVay's offense will be critical given the fact that Robert Woods will miss the remainder of the season with a torn ACL.
Schefter added Sunday morning that the Rams are considering using Beckham as a punt returner Monday night "as part of a package of plays designed for the star wide receiver." He has returned just one punt since 2019 despite being used as a returner during his tenure with the New York Giants.
In addition to the Rams, Beckham was also reportedly pursued by the Green Bay Packers, New Orleans Saints, Kansas City Chiefs, New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks. The Pittsburgh Steelers also reportedly made a late push to sign the veteran.
The Rams enter Monday night's game with a 7-2 record, second in the NFC West behind the Arizona Cardinals.
Odell Beckham Jr. Rumors: Steelers Called WR Before He Signed Contract with Rams
Nov 14, 2021
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. runs after a catch during NFL football practice Saturday, Nov. 13, 2021, in Thousand Oaks, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
The Pittsburgh Steelers reportedly "called to make a play" on Odell Beckham Jr. before the receiver signed with the Los Angeles Rams, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com.
The last-ditch effort was too late, however, as Beckham had reportedly already narrowed his choices down to the Rams or Green Bay Packers.
According to Rapoport, the Kansas City Chiefs, New England Patriots, Seattle Seahawks and New Orleans Saints also made offers on Beckham, who was waived by the Cleveland Browns last Monday.
The Steelers could use receiver help because of injuries, especially with Chase Claypool out for Week 10 with a toe injury. Rapoport reported the injury is considered "week-to-week."
JuJu Smith-Schuster was also previously ruled out for the year with a shoulder injury.
It has left Pittsburgh with limited depth at receiver behind Diontae Johnson. James Washington (12 catches for 154 yards) is the only other healthy wideout with more than eight receptions this season.
Beckham didn't live up to expectations in Cleveland, but the three-time Pro Bowler still has a career average of 80.3 receiving yards per game with 51 touchdowns and can be a game-changing threat when healthy.
The 29-year-old decided the Rams were a better fit, and his role should increase after Robert Woods suffered a torn ACL in practice Friday.
The 5-3 Steelers must now move forward with limited options in the passing attack, relying even more on running back Najee Harris and tight end Pat Freiermuth.
