The Miami Dolphins have been eagerly awaiting the return of Odell Beckham Jr., their hopeful No. 3 wide receiver, to practice. Beckham, sidelined for months due to an unspecified injury, is now back in the fold after being removed from the reserve/PUP list. While the team didn’t hold practice on Wednesday, Beckham was listed as a full participant in an estimated report, signaling a significant step in his recovery. The Dolphins now have three weeks to activate him; otherwise, he will miss the season. However, given his progress, it seems likely that Beckham will be activated within this window.
Beckham’s injury, which has now been identified as a knee issue, has kept him out for much of the offseason. It’s particularly concerning considering his history of knee injuries, including two ACL tears over the past few years, the second of which sidelined him for the entirety of the 2022 season. He did, however, make a successful return last year, playing 14 regular-season games and both of the Ravens’ playoff contests, which alleviated some concerns about his durability. Nevertheless, this is a situation worth monitoring for Miami, as Beckham’s health will be crucial to the team’s offensive plans.
While Beckham’s return is imminent, the Dolphins are dealing with a much larger issue: the absence of their starting quarterback, Tua Tagovailoa. Without Tagovailoa, who is recovering from a concussion, the team’s offense has struggled under backup quarterbacks Skylar Thompson and Tyler Huntley. Huntley, an emergency signing, has been named the starter for Week 5, as the Dolphins continue to navigate their quarterback crisis. Although Tagovailoa is expected to return in Week 8 when he’s first eligible to come off injured reserve, Miami will need to find a way to stay competitive in his absence.
As Beckham nears his return, he will join Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, adding more firepower to Miami’s receiving corps. Last season with the Ravens, Beckham posted 565 receiving yards (averaging 16.1 yards per catch) and three touchdowns. Despite his solid performance, the Ravens opted not to retain him, which led to his signing with Miami on a one-year, $3 million deal. While head coach Mike McDaniel has not confirmed whether Beckham will play in Week 5, he did note that Beckham has not faced any setbacks in his recovery. With an estimated full practice participation, Beckham’s debut appears to be on the horizon, giving the Dolphins a much-needed boost as they prepare for the rest of the season.
