CLEVELAND — When the Cleveland Browns held their first practice of the organized team activities phase of the offseason program Tuesday, new wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. was on the field and catching passes from second-year quarterback Baker Mayfield.
However, come Wednesday, Beckham Jr. was not at practice, but to his former LSU teammate Jarvis Landry, someone who knows the wide receiver better than most, there is no need to worry about the absences.
“It’s no concern to me, and for the team,” Landry said in a press conference about his upcoming charity softball game at Classic Park in Eastlake Thursday. “I think they understand the type of player he is and that he’s going to be ready. I know personally that he will be ready. That’s really all that needs to be said about it.”
Beckham Jr. was not the only notable absence from Wednesday’s on-field work, as running back Duke Johnson Jr. did not attend the session.
“I would be lying to say that I wasn’t disappointed that we don’t have everybody here,” Browns coach Freddie Kitchens said after Wednesday’s practice. “I’m not going to fool you and try to trick you into saying, ‘I’m happy-go-lucky fine with it.’
“I want everybody here because I do think it is important to be here, but it is their option. They understand what they have to do once they come here. As long as everybody is on the same page as that, I’m fine as long as they are ready to play. Odell is going to be ready. Duke is going to be ready. All of them are going to be ready to play.”
While the Browns would like to have Beckham Jr. at more practices, the team is encouraged by his track record of success.
Over 59 regular-season games, including 56 starts, in five years with the New York Giants, Beckham Jr. turned 622 targets into 390 receptions for 5,476 yards and 44 touchdowns. Beckham Jr. averaged 92.8 yards per game, including a league-best 108.8 during the 2014 season.
Last year, Beckham Jr. turned in a 77-catch, 1,052-yard, six-touchdown effort for the Giants.
And after watching Beckham Jr. go through the drills Tuesday, Landry believes more good things are ahead for the Browns’ offense.
“It’s a crazy feeling,” Landry said. “Actually just seeing him in the journey and seeing him in the colors and practicing kind of brought it all to life, you know the things that we talked about. It wasn’t as real until you actually see him wearing the colors. He’s actually on the same practice field, catching balls from Baker. It’s like, ‘Wait. Hold up. It’s happening.’”