Overview
- Alex Wright suffered a ruptured Achilles during a one-on-one drill and collapsed in practice with the Buffalo Bills, a Thursday injury that tests his availability for the 2026 season.
- The Browns announced they will place Wright on season-ending injured reserve and signed veteran Derek Barnett to a one-year deal reported to be worth up to $5.5 million as an immediate roster response.
- Barnett is a former first-round pick and Super Bowl winner who has produced a steady rotational pass rush in recent seasons but is not a direct like-for-like replacement for the younger, recently extended Wright.
- Cleveland is already turning to internal options such as Isaiah McGuire, Julian Okwara, Mike Hall Jr. and Jamil Muhammad for reps while keeping the market for veteran free agents or trade targets open as cuts approach.
- Wright’s three-year, $33 million extension keeps him under contract beyond 2026 but removes a planned starter this season, a change that increases pressure on Jared Verse to lead the edge and could force further roster moves by GM Andrew Berry.