Browns HC Kevin Stefanski Says OBJ Is Out For The Season

The Odell Beckham, Jr. experiment may be over in Cleveland after head coach Kevin Stefanski announced Wednesday that the wideout is officially out for the season. Conduct issues and complaints over the receiver's role in the offense have sparked tensions in the past, but it appears Cleveland is having no more.

Early reports Wednesday suggested that the team asked OBJ to sit the day out from practice after a tension-filled path to Tuesday's trade deadline.

With rumors surrounding Cleveland's consideration to ship Odell out, the wideout's camp — namely his father — released season footage and messaging that supported a potential trade. The videos showcased the wideout running himself open and getting overlooked by Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield — shifting blame away from OBJ as his relationship with the Browns remains volatile due to his lack of production.

Baker Mayfield was asked about the footage, and whether he took the messaging personal. “Hurt? No. Surprised? Yes," Mayfield said. "There’s different things that factor into it. I’ve had conversations with his dad before, like a man, face to face. I was pretty surprised by the video and the intention and feelings behind it.”

A day following the trade deadline, and with Odell still in Ohio, tensions spilled over into Wednesday's practice. According to Cleveland reporter Brad Stainbrook, Kevin Stefanski informed the team that Odell will not be joining the Browns for the remainder of the year.

In four of five seasons with the New York Giants, Odell passed the 1,000-yard receiving mark, and climbed his way to superstar status by the time he was traded to Cleveland in 2019.

Beckham totaled 1,035 yards in his debut season with the Browns but saw his role regress due to both injury and character issues. In his second season in Cleveland, Odell amassed 319 yards on 23 catches and had his year cut short due to an ACL injury.

If over, Odell will end the 2021-22 season with 17 catches and 232 receiving yards — both career lows.

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