With minutes remaining in the second quarter of the 2022 Super Bowl, Los Angeles Rams star wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. left the game with an apparent non-contact injury to his left knee – the same knee he tore his ACL in October 2020, also against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Trainers attended to Beckham on the field after a target from Matthew Stafford landed incomplete. The wideout left the field under his own power, walking gingerly with assistance. According to Doug Kyed of Pro Football Focus, Beckham “pounded his fist on a cooler” as he entered the blue medical tent for further evaluation.
Odell Beckham Jr’s non-contact knee injury. this sucks!
According to the Rams official Twitter account, Beckham was originally listed as questionable to return in the second half. However, the team downgraded the receiver to out about midway through the third quarter.
Rams injury update: WR Odell Beckham Jr. downgraded to OUT with a knee injury.
Upon return to the second half, the NBC broadcast shared that the receiver’s return was “not looking good,” according to Rams head coach Sean McVay.
Prior to exiting, Beckham hauled in 2 passes for 52 yards and a first-quarter touchdown. The 29-year-old initially signed with the Rams on November 11, inking a one-year, $1.25 million contract following a brief free agent stint after being waived by the Cleveland Browns.
Former NFL Doctor: ‘Worry for Left Knee ACL Retear’
According to former NFL team doctor David Chao, the early “worry” surrounding Beckham’s knee is a potential retearing of his left ACL.
Worry for left knee ACL retear on @obj. Hope I am wrong but left foot sticks in turf and knee shifts non contact.🙏
Beckham made his 2021 debut in Week 3 while still with the Browns.
“I’ve worked extremely hard to not only get back but improve and try to be better than I ever have been,” Beckham said, via Jake Trotter of ESPN. “So I’m definitely looking forward to it. It’s been a long time. It’s been a long time in that cave, putting yourself back together. I had a great team around me for the entire process, great support system. And it’s going to be special. Like I said, it’s been a long time.”
In 8 games (7 starts) in Los Angeles, Beckham compiled 27 receptions, 305 yards, and 5 touchdowns, his highest score total since the 2018 season with the New York Giants.
Social Media Reacts to News of Beckham’s Injury
Reactions poured in on Twitter in the minutes immediately following Beckham going down.
Nooooooooooooooooo!!!!!! Get up @obj. Please…..Please….Please get up, Bro! You’ve been balling. Please don’t be hurt!!!
Former NFL player Connor Barwin called on the league to “ban artificial turf in all stadiums.”
NFL needs to ban artificial turf in all stadiums. Hope @obj is ok.
Seattle Seahawks QB Russell Wilson was also among some big NFL names to weigh in.
Oh no! Praying for you @OBJ
NBA star Ja Morant tweeted “no dawg. come on obj.”
🙏🏽 no dawg . come on obj
This story is developing and will be updated.
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Former NFL Doctor Reveals Big ‘Worry’ Over Odell Beckham’s Super Bowl Injury