'He Means a Lot to Me!' Rams Coach Sean McVay Praises Baltimore Ravens WR Odell Beckham Jr.

Former Los Angeles Rams and current Batimore Ravens wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. is slated to face his former team on Sunday.

There are plenty of storylines to follow in this week's matchup between the Baltimore Ravens and Los Angeles Rams, but one such note focuses on wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr.

Beckham has suited up for four NFL teams during his professional career, but one of the highlights of his playing time came in 2021 with the Rams. Now, he makes plays for the Baltimore Ravens, and Los Angeles is preparing for a unique reunion with him on Sunday.

Rams head coach Sean McVay had plenty of praise for Beckham during media availability this week, stating that the memories of him in L.A. are fond ones.

“Yeah, I keep in touch," McVay said. "I love Odell. He sure means a lot to me. It was a blessing to be able to coach him, and he's as fun a guy as there is. He's so talented. He works hard. He's a great teammate. 

"The ways that he elevated our program and what he meant to our team. And then because you appreciate the person so much, I always root for him, except for this week. But he’s on the bad guys this week, so we’ll root for him after that.”

Nov 16, 2023; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. (3) cuts as official falls during the second half against the Cincinnati Bengals at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports / © Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

McVay is also preparing for a strong test from Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson. These two teams met in 2019, a year that saw Jackson win the league MVP award, and Baltimore came away with a 45-6 win in L.A.

"That was not a fond memory for the Rams in 2019," McVay said, "but he did his thing when you look at it. It was like clockwork, and it was his MVP year, but he's consistently played great throughout the course of his career. They're a great team."

Ravens Listed as TD Favorite vs. Rams

The Rams are winners of three straight games, and they are looking to move into deeper contention within the NFC playoff picture with a win on Sunday. Baltimore, meanwhile, is still eyeing the No. 1 seed in the AFC with a 9-3 record.

Kickoff between the Ravens and Rams is set for 1 p.m. ET on Sunday, and the game will be televised on FOX.