Browns plan to release Odell Beckham Jr. after excusing him from practices this week

BEREA, Ohio — Odell Beckham Jr. remains separated from the Browns.

A divorce will be finalized soon.

The Browns plan to release Beckham, a person familiar with the situation confirmed to the Beacon Journal.

Late Thursday night, ProFootballTalk.com reported the Browns plan to release Beckham on Friday. According to the report, the Browns and Beckham are expected to strike a deal on a revised contract to reduce the team's obligation to pay OBJ if he's not claimed off waivers.

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As it stands, Beckham is still due $8 million guaranteed of the $15.75 million he's scheduled to make this year.

On Thursday morning, the Browns excused the wide receiver from practice for the second consecutive day.

On Wednesday, Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said Beckham had been excused from practice while his representatives and general manager Andrew Berry discussed the future of the three-time Pro Bowl selection.

Asked whether Beckham had requested his release from the Browns, Stefanski said, "That’s something that I think his reps and Andrew would talk through.”

The relationship between Beckham and the Browns reached critical condition on the heels of OBJ catching one pass on just one official target in Sunday's 15-10 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The NFL trade deadline passed at 4 p.m. ET Tuesday without the Browns dealing Beckham, even though friend LeBron James and his father had created a stir on social media earlier in the day.

On Tuesday morning, Odell Beckham Sr. shared a video on Instagram highlighting plays on which Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield didn't pass to an open OBJ or missed him because of an off-target throw or miscommunication in Weeks 3-6.

Los Angeles Lakers superstar and Akron native James tweeted the following just before noon Tuesday: "OBJ will show again why he’s special. WR1 #FreeOBJ."

In a new Instagram post on Thursday morning, Beckham Sr. credited the YouTube content producer who created the video disparaging Mayfield's performance.

Stefanski and Mayfield said Wednesday they hadn't talked to Beckham about the drama.

Nate Ulrich can be reached at nulrich@thebeaconjournal.com.