Expectations growing for Ravens veteran ahead of playoffs: 'He's at his best right now'
The Ravens are just a few days away from starting what many believe will be a run to the Super Bowl. If that's the case, Baltimore thinks one of its veterans will play a large role.
"Odell [Beckham Jr.]'s been through so much and he's worked so hard," head coach John Harbaugh told reporters. "He's at his best right now. You see him out there. He looks really good. ... I'm looking forward to seeing what he does."
It's certainly been a tough road for the 31-year-old, who has suffered two season-ending ACL injuries and is on his third team in three years. But he seems to have finally found his footing in the league once again and he's hoping it ends with him hoisting his second Vince Lombardi Trophy.
"It's been a long two and a half years. It kind of all boils down to this. You only have four or five days guaranteed left, everything else you earn after that," Beckham Jr. said. "Such a long journey and you're getting towards the end. You may as well reap the benefits of all the hard work you put in."
It took Beckham Jr. some time to find his role in the Ravens offense, posting just 14 catches for 162 yards and zero touchdowns through Week 8. But since then, he's had 21 receptions for 403 yards and three touchdowns.
The 2014 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year is still not the player he used to be but his quarterback thinks he's close.
"I believe throughout all season he's been, each and every week, getting better and better to be the player that he once was," Lamar Jackson stated. "As the playoffs start rolling, he's definitely going to be one of the guys."
Whether or not that's true, it would be difficult to argue that Beckham Jr. will be a complete non-factor come Saturday when Baltimore hosts the Texans in the divisional round of the playoffs.
The Ravens are clearly expecting him to be the player they knew he could still be when handing him a one-year, $15M contract in the offseason.
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