During the Downs2Business podcast episode, Caleb Downs spoke with his brother Josh Downs and former NFL safety Tyrann Mathieu about the season opener and recalled a memorable interaction with OBJ. Downs described seeing Beckham before the game, greeting him, and then noting OBJ’s aggressive approach on a play early in the game. He recounted OBJ stepping into the open field and attempting to crack block him, remarking that Beckham came from out of nowhere and tried to drive him to the ground with a shoulder pop. “That moment of him coming out of nowhere” stayed with Downs, who found the experience both surprising and amusing.
While OBJ’s defensive shoulder shove isn’t reflected in a box score, Beckham does have a history of physical play. Across his ten NFL seasons prior to 2026, he has accumulated three solo tackles on defense and one forced fumble, underscoring the physicality he brings beyond his receiving duties.
For Downs, there’s an additional layer to this encounter. When he joined the Cowboys’ rookie minicamp, he wore No. 18 but later switched to No. 13—the number he now sports. The switch was influenced, in part, by Beckham’s early association with the number and by Alabama safety Malachi Moore, who wore No. 13 and inspired Downs’ choice. Downs noted that the first player he ever saw wearing No. 13 was OBJ, and he also cited Moore as a defensive influence who helped shape the identity of that number.
Beckham wore No. 13 during his early years with the Giants (2014–2018) and again with the Cleveland Browns (2019–2021). He later wore No. 3 for the remainder of his NFL career, but he reclaimed No. 13 when he joined the Giants. For Downs, facing Beckham in Week 1 offered a personal connection to the inspiration behind his own jersey number.
Dallas will have another chance to line up against OBJ later in the season when the teams meet again in Week 17. That matchup could bring another notable memory—or perhaps even a jersey swap—for the young player. For now, Downs’ takeaway centers on that shoulder check from Beckham and the momentary clash that added a memorable chapter to his rookie season.
The story highlights how a single, off‑the‑ball moment can resonate with a first‑year player: witnessing a veteran star up-close, the intensity of a season opener, and the personal significance of jersey numbers that tie generations together.
