Cleveland Browns wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

Browns WR Odell Beckham Jr. out Sunday vs. Texans

By Zac Wassink | Last updated 9/15/21

The Cleveland Browns will once again be without a familiar face when they next take the field, this time for Sunday's home opener against the Houston Texans.

Per Adam Schefter of ESPN, Cleveland head coach Kevin Stefanski told reporters Wednesday that star wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. has already been ruled out of Sunday's contest as Beckham works to get back to full fitness coming off the torn ACL he suffered last Oct. 25 against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Browns’ HC Kevin Stefanski said today that WR Odell Beckham Jr will not play Sunday vs. Houston.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 15, 2021

Beckham traveled with the Browns for their Week 1 showdown with the Kansas City Chiefs and even completed pregame workouts at Arrowhead Stadium ahead of kickoff but did not play.

"He worked out before the game and didn’t feel like he could go a significant amount, so we felt like it was the right thing to do to keep him inactive," Stefanski said of Beckham after Sunday's 33-29 loss to the Chiefs.

Rookie and third-round draft pick Anthony Schwartz performed well in Beckham's absence and recorded three catches for 69 yards, so quarterback Baker Mayfield could look to target Schwartz early and, maybe, often versus Houston.

Beckham, meanwhile, will now look to get right for the Week 3 home game against the Chicago Bears on Sept. 26.

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