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ESPN Senior Writer- Jake Trotter covers college football for ESPN. He joined ESPN in 2011. Before that, he worked at The Oklahoman, Austin American-Statesman and Middletown (Ohio) Journal newspapers. You can follow him @Jake_Trotter.
KANSAS CITY -- OBJ's return will have to wait.
Cleveland Browns star wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. is inactive for the season opener Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs.
On Friday, Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said Beckham's status would be a game-time decision. Two hours before kickoff, Beckham was running sprints on the field and warming up to test his surgically repaired left knee.
Beckham had been a limited participant throughout training camp as he worked his way back from the surgery to repair a season-ending injury. But over the past two weeks, he had begun to ramp up his activity in practice, taking part in both team and 7-on-7 scrimmaging drills.
Beckham has battled injuries since arriving in Cleveland in a trade from the New York Giants two years ago. Last year in Week 7, he went down with a torn ACL while attempting to tackle a defender after an interception.
The Chiefs are without safety Tyrann Mathieu, who is one of their inactive players. Mathieu was on the NFL's COVID-19 list and missed practice all week. But he was moved to the active roster Saturday and was stretching with teammates during early warm-ups at Arrowhead Stadium, sparking thought he would be available against the Browns.
The Chiefs also are without defensive end Frank Clark, who missed all of the preseason with a sore hamstring. Clark was listed as questionable for Sunday's game on the Chiefs' final injury report of the week.