Odell Beckham Jr. wouldn’t miss the Chiefs game for the world; Jadeveon Clowney’s return a boost; Tyrann Math

BEREA, Ohio — Odell Beckham Jr. is listed as questionable for Sunday’s opener in Kansas City with his ACL recovery, but there’s no way he’d miss this game.

The receiver has had this circled on his calendar since the schedule came out, especially because he had to miss the 22-17 divisional round loss to the Chiefs while recovering from his torn ACL.

Beckham didn’t make himself available to the media this week for whatever reason, but made it clear at his youth football camp in Gates Mills, Ohio, in late July — the only time he’s talked publicly since the surgery in November — how difficult it was to watch that loss to the Chiefs, knowing he could’ve been the difference.

“I came back for a reason,’’ he said that morning at Sunday morning at Gilmour Academy. “I feel like we have a special opportunity. I was down in Austin with [Baker Mayfield] and seeing him a few times since then, just kicking it, hanging out. It’s just something that feels special about this team. As I said when I first got here, I wanted it to be like the Patriots.

“You want to win Super Bowls. I watched [my teammates] compete last year, and the one game that hurt me the most is watching Kansas City and feeling like, ‘Man, I know that I could have made one play,’ just something to help the team.’’

Since then, Beckham has worked tirelessly to be ready for the opener, and to help lead the Browns to a Super Bowl this season. An eighth-year pro, he’s played in only one playoff game his entire career — a 38-13 loss to the Packers in 2016, during which he caught only four passes for 28 yards.

Beckham now knows just how precious the playoffs are, how winning it all is the most important thing.

“The only reason to do this is to get one of them rings,’’ he said. “The whole reason.’’

Beckham has put in countless hours of blood, sweat and tears to be ready for the start of this season, and he’s looked amazing in the limited work that he’s had. Coach Kevin Stefanski acknowledged Friday that Beckham hasn’t had full contact to the ground or taken a hit to the knee, but he also said he hasn’t had a setback.

If all goes as planned, Beckham will start against the Chiefs and play as much as he can.

The Browns will be smart with him, and all of the other players coming off injuries, such as safety Grant Delpit, who’s also questionable coming off of his ruptured Achilles from last season and hamstring injury from training camp.

Offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt noted that Beckham has ramped up for the Chiefs in team drills, which are closed to the media. In individual drills, work off to the side with Mayfield and workouts before the preseason games, he’s displayed his speed, cutting ability and excellent hands.

Van Pelt stressed that Beckham definitely still has his blazing speed.

“There’s no question,’’ Van Pelt said. “He’s powerful and explosive when he starts to run, and he digs in. He can fly. Having that speed back on the field, we are looking forward to that.”

At this point, the only thing that would keep Beckham from playing is some unforeseen setback or hamstring injury. He missed a chance to play against the team that won the Super Bowl two years ago and lost it last year, and he’s not about to sit this one out.

Jadeveon Clowney’s return a big boost

Clowney returned to practice Friday after missing Wednesday and Thursday with an unspecified illness. He looked fast and explosive in individual drills, and ready to start in KC opposite Myles Garrett. Like Beckham, he’s listed as questionable, but there’s no doubt he’ll play unless he relapses.

“I’m sure glad that he’s back – will never sell that short,’’ Garrett said. “I wasn’t playing with Clowney last year or my first three years so if anything happens, I’m not going to be afraid to take on the challenge with the rest of the guys in the locker room because I know they are just as prepared.”

Takk McKinley was ready to step in for Clowney, and will be the third defensive end in the rotation despite missing three weeks of camp.

“He’s done a nice job out there, just how attentive he is at the walkthroughs, in the meeting room and coming out here on the practice field and playing really fast,’’ Stefanski said. “He has done a nice job.”

McKinley, a pure speed rusher, brings a nice change of pace from the bigger and more thunderous Garrett and Clowney. The three, and everyone on the line, will try to take advantage of the newcomers on the Chiefs line, several of whom have never taken an NFL snap.

“They’re new, but they have some good guys on their line,’’ Garrett said. “Not selling them short. Not going to take them for granted. We have to go out there thinking that they put in the same kind of work that we have. We’re going to go out there and test them, but we have to get ourselves sharp before we can go out there and put on the performance we want to.”

Cleveland Browns vs. Kansas City Chiefs, January 17, 2021 — Kansas City Chiefs strong safety Tyrann Mathieu and Cleveland Browns wide receiver Jarvis Landry both try to grab a bobbled pass during the second half their AFC Division Playoff game. The ball fell to the ground before either couch get ahold of it. Joshua Gunter, cleveland.com

Coming down to the wire for Chiefs safety Tyrann Mathieu

The Chiefs might have to face the Browns without one of their best defensive players in three-time first-team All-Pro safety Tyrann Mathieu, who’s still on COVID-19 reserve and running out of time.

Mathieu, who’s fully vaccinated, must be activated by 4 p.m. EDT Saturday to be eligible to play, and in order for that to happen, he must have tested negative twice within the span of 24 hours. It’s unknown if he tested negative on Friday, although Chiefs coach Andy Reid said Wednesday that his tests were getting better.

For the Chiefs, losing Mathieu would be a tremendous blow. He’s the leader of their secondary, and the inspirational leader of the unit. In the playoff victory over the Browns, he led the team with seven tackles, one for a loss, and picked off Baker Mayfield on a pass intended for Jarvis Landry in the third quarter.

If Mathieu can’t play, safety Daniel Sorensen will likely make the secondary calls. In the playoff victory over the Browns, Sorensen made six tackles, one QB hit, and forced a fumble.

“We’re just going to see how it goes,” Reid told Chiefs reporters on Friday. “We’ve got the other guys [who] have practiced and they’re ready to go. If he can’t go, then he can’t. If he can go, then he can.”