Former NFL doctor details timeline for Odell Beckham Jr.'s recovery

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. finally took home a Super Bowl ring on Sunday, but it came with a cost — a significant one at that — as Beckham Jr. tore his ACL on a non-contact injury early in the game.

Beckham, who was released by the Cleveland Browns and picked up by the Rams in a midseason acquisition, signed a relatively cheap one-year deal with Los Angeles. Now, he prepares to enter an offseason in which he’ll be an unrestricted free agent, but he’ll enter the period of uncertainty with a potential career-altering injury.

Former NFL doctor David J. Chao, a who’s well-renowned in the athletics space, revealed his best guess at Beckham’s timeline for recovery via Twitter Monday.

“Although 2nd ACL tear has a slightly quicker recovery, mid February ACL tear is tight timeline for start of next season and OBJ is a free agent,” Chao said of the injury.

Chao’s analysis came just hours after NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport confirmed the speculation that Beckham’s injury was, in fact, a torn ACL — a brutal blow for the soon-to-be free agent.

“#Rams WR Odell Beckham Jr is believed to have torn his ACL in last night’s Super Bowl win, source said,” tweeted Rapoport. “That means a long road of recovery for the free agent, who has a challenge to be ready for 2022. Beckham had 2 catches for 52 yards, 1 TD and 1 moonwalk before the injury.”

Von Miller makes telling statement about Odell Beckham Jr following Super Bowl win

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. made his presence felt early in Super Bowl LVI, and Rams star linebacker Von Miller was highly complimentary of Beckham, who was forced to leave the game in the first half after suffering a non-contact injury.

Beckham made it through just over a quarter and some change before he went down with an apparent knee injury. He quickly made his way over to the injury tent, then later to the locker room, and he was then ruled out for the remainder of the contest. Regardless, Beckham still managed to finish as the Rams’ second-leading receiver in terms of yardage, finishing his day with two catches for 52 yards and a touchdown, reeling in the Rams’ first touchdown of the day.

“It’s an emotional moment for him,” Miller said, when asked what he told Beckham after the win. “He was on his way to having a Super Bowl MVP type of performance, man. But he got a ring, man. It’s what we all came here for. I love the guy to death. That’s my boy forever. We’re forever etched in stone as Super Bowl champs.”https://6f5a0d331a57c6e4be757c7dee6d4f7d.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-38/html/container.html

The Super Bowl MVP award, of course, was given to Cooper Kupp, who finished with eight receptions for 92 yards and two receiving touchdowns. But according to Miller, had Beckham made it through the entirety of the game, he believes it would have been Beckham taking home the prestigious award.