Odell Beckham Jr., a wide receiver for the Miami Dolphins, started practising this week after being placed on the physically unable to perform list at the start of the season.
In an interview with reporters on Thursday, Beckham stated that while he was “glad” to be back on the practice pitch, he still felt “a little out of football shape.”
Beckham, who inked a one-year deal with the Dolphins in May, has been sidelined with a knee ailment for the first four games of the season.
“I hate the feeling of walking around this building and you’re hurt,” he said Thursday. “I can’t practice with the team, be on the field, I can’t play the first four games, it’s a rule, it’s very simple.”
Although Beckham claimed it was best for the team, he didn’t want to begin the season on the PUP list.
“I think a lot of people don’t know exactly what I was going through,” he said. “If I’m not on the PUP list I’m taking up a roster spot which means I’m taking someone else’s job and I’m not doing anything, it’s not really a good feeling to have so it was what was best for this team and organization and it was an easy decision for us.”
It’s unknown how the 31-year-old veteran will feel going into Sunday’s game against the Patriots.
After making a splash as a rookie, Beckham—who was selected by the New York Giants with the 12th overall pick in 2014—has struggled with several ailments in recent years. The previous season, he had 35 receptions for 565 yards and three touchdowns with Baltimore before the Ravens cut him go in March.
