After a phenomenal outing in the USFL, Chris Odom signed with the Cleveland Browns in the offseason. He participated in a few preseason games with the team, performing quite well throughout that span.
Unfortunately, things took a turn for the worse on Saturday. Odom suffered an ACL tear this past weekend playing against the Chicago Bears.
#Browns DE Chris Odom suffered a season-ending ACL injury during Saturday's preseason game vs. Chicago.
Cleveland just signed Odom earlier this month after he played in the USFL and was the league’s Defensive Player of the Year with a 12.5 sack season.
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) August 28, 2022
This is a tough blow for Odom, who was making a great case for himself to make the regular season roster. He racked up a few tackles in two games with Cleveland, including a sack against Jacksonville.
chris odom was ranked one of top 3 defenders vs jags.(per pff)
if he continues to be productive in the preseason, i see him being a key rotational edge rusher for us. #browns pic.twitter.com/hMVMbGGYTu— ikigai. (@____ikigai) August 14, 2022
In the USFL, Chris Odom was an absolute force to be reckoned with. While the Houston Gamblers struggled to win games, Odom was consistently making important plays week in and week out.
He led the league in sacks, with 12.5 on the season. On top of that, he posted over 40 tackles, making an impact in many ways. Due to his sensational performances week in and week out, Odom was rewarded with Defensive Player Of The Year honors.
Chris Odom leads the league with ELEVEN sacks! Watch them all here 😤@Chrisodom98 | #ALLIN 🎲 pic.twitter.com/cFRuwjIzIs
— Houston Gamblers (@USFLGamblers) June 8, 2022
For example, he forced several fumbles – and, blocked a couple of field goals for the Gamblers in 2022. Without a doubt, Odom was one of the USFL’s best players. In fact, he made the inaugural All-USFL defensive team.
Chris Odom making another huge play? Who would've seen that one coming. Seriously, this guy has to be in an NFL camp in a few weeks. Absolutely deserves it. pic.twitter.com/rM1f3Cwou8
— James Larsen (@JamesLarsenMI) June 20, 2022
Now, the athlete will have to overcome another hurdle, in recovering from this injury. We wish Odom nothing but the absolute best in his recovery, and cannot wait to see him on the gridiron again soon.
Did you enjoy watching Chris Odom in the USFL this season? What are your favorite memories from his DPOTY campaign? Let us know down in the comments below, or join the conversation on Discord!