Cowboys reportedly concerned about Odell Beckham Jr.'s recovery timeline

Fans may want to stop assuming it's a lock the Dallas Cowboys will sign free-agent wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. before the playoffs. 

ESPN's Ed Werder reported Tuesday that the Cowboys "have concerns" after Beckham underwent a physical with them that his recovery from the torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee he suffered in February could prevent him from playing "before mid-January" at the earliest. 

"There is a possibility that signing Beckham...would have no benefit until the 2023 season," a source told Werder. 

Ahead of this past weekend, Paul Schwartz of the New York Post noted that Beckham was not planning to work out during meetings with the Cowboys or with the New York Giants and Buffalo Bills. The 30-year-old visited the Giants and Bills last week. 

"Free agents, even those coming off serious injuries, often do not show up in sweats and run routes or sprints in front of coaches, team executives and medical personnel," Schwartz explained. 

As mentioned by Charean Williams of Pro Football Talk, Beckham initially tore the ACL in his left knee featuring for the Cleveland Browns in October 2020. The three-time Pro Bowl selection didn't make his 2021 debut until late September of that year, so a similar timeline following his latest injury would probably keep him an inactive spectator through Week 18 on Jan. 8, 2023. 

The 9-3 Cowboys trail the 11-1 Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC East standings. 

Per Werder and ESPN's Todd Archer, Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones said during a Tuesday appearance on local radio station 105.3 The Fan that Beckham playing this season is "paramount" to signing him as soon as before Christmas Day. 

"It's a lot different if you play one play or if you played or are available for a week and that week be the Super Bowl week, than if he's available the next week," Jones remarked about Beckham. "And so everything in between. I would say that's a point of discussion — a player's own belief of where he is in becoming ready to play is real big."