Odell Beckham Jr. considered retirement after knee injury

It turns out Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. nearly stayed unsigned longer than the 2022 season. 

For a piece published Monday, Beckham told The Athletic he thought about retiring following his second serious knee injury since the fall of 2020. 

"I went through a lot the last couple of years, and I thought it was over," Beckham admitted about his career. "I didn’t want to get back up on the horse and do the same song and dance all over again." 

Beckham suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee playing for the Cleveland Browns in October 2020 and then tore the ACL in the same knee during Super Bowl LVI with the Los Angeles Rams in February 2022. 

The three-time Pro Bowl selection attempted to play for the Dallas Cowboys, among other clubs, during the second half of last season until the Cowboys reportedly became concerned about his knee after he underwent a physical with the team. 

Beckham ultimately remained a free agent until he put pen to paper on a one-year, $15M contract with the Ravens in April. General manager Eric DeCosta later insisted the Ravens "saw everything we needed to see" regarding Beckham's knee before they offered him a deal. 

Beckham turns 31 in November and entered the NFL when the New York Giants made him a first-round draft pick back in 2014. He indicated the upcoming season could be his walkoff campaign even if he returns to his finest form while playing alongside superstar quarterback Lamar Jackson.

"I’m thinking like this is my last year," Beckham added during the conversation. "I’m going to give it my all this year. And then if something happens after that, we can go from there." 

Beckham recently vowed he is "very determined and hungry" to silence doubters and help the 2023 Ravens compete for more than just a playoff berth. 

Assuming he's truly considering riding off into the sunset by this time next year, it's understandable he may feel extra motivated to chase a second career Super Bowl ring with the Ravens this season.