Ex-Rams WR Odell Beckham Played 'Without ACL' During Super Bowl Run
How different would the 2021 season have gone for the Los Angeles Rams if it wasn't for the contributors of wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr?
Do the Rams still win the Super Bowl? Do they even make it to SoFi Stadium to face the Cincinnati Bengals?
We will never know, but it is a potential hypothetical that many of the Rams faithful may be thinking about after Beckham revealed during his introductory press conference with the Baltimore Ravens that he played without an ACL in Los Angeles.
“That whole season I was playing without it,” Beckham said in Baltimore. “It was a crazy thing. I signed with the L.A. Rams, and I remember ElAttrache comes down there and he’s like, ‘I’ve just got to inform you that you don’t have an ACL. You know, we can redo your surgery right now.’ And this was Week Nine of the season," Beckham continued.
So why did Beckham ultimately decide to play without an ACL? Well, he had a proverbial chip on his shoulder.
“And I just told him, I was like, ‘I’ve been through way too much to come here and sign. There was way too much talk on my name. You know, the past year, like I came here to win a championship.’ And I told him I’d die on the sword.”
And he did; Beckham played for the Rams until he couldn't, as he went down with that knee injury in the first half of the Super Bowl.
If it wasn't for that injury, some even believe that Beckham would've gone on to win the Super Bowl MVP. Beckham had two catches for 52 yards and a touchdown before being sidelined for the game.
Beckham's revelation is a stark contrast to a reputation he has built over his career as being a "diva." OBJ's willingness to play through that kind of injury showed selflessness and will to win.
Beckham's signing with the Ravens put to an end his year-long stint in free agency as he recovered from his ACL injury, as he now hopes to start chasing his second Super Bowl ring.
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