The Cleveland Browns just got rocked with some brutal news: defensive end Alex Wright is out for the entire 2026 season after suffering a devastating Achilles injury. This isn’t just a tough break for Wright as he headed into his fifth year; it’s a huge blow to an edge rush position the Browns were *already* scrambling to fix before this injury even happened.
The Edge Rush Gets Decimated
Man, you hate to see it. While the talk after that blowout loss to the Buffalo Bills in the second preseason game was all about the quarterbacks, like Deshaun Watson’s post-game presser, the real story for the Browns just broke. Head Coach Todd Monken had nothing to say about Wright on Saturday, but by Sunday, the reports dropped. Wright, a 2022 third-round pick, who had put up 11.5 sacks in 51 games, including 5.5 last season, 21 tackles for loss, 15 QB hits, and eight passes defended, is completely sidelined. His 2026 campaign is wiped out before it even truly began. This Achilles injury is a killer for him and for the Browns’ defensive front. They’d been chasing guys like Jadeveon Clowney and Za’Darius Smith, working out other defenders, because their need at defensive end was clear as day. Mike Hall Jr. showed a little spark moving to the edge against the Bills when Wright was out, but everyone knew that wasn’t the long-term answer.
A Former First-Round Pick Jumps In
So, what’s a team to do when their D-line just got gutted like that? They went out and signed Derek Barnett. This dude was a first-round pick for the Philadelphia Eagles back in 2017. He’s played nine seasons, racked up 34 sacks, 57 tackles for loss, and 104 QB hits. The man also has five forced fumbles and five fumble recoveries, with three of those recoveries turning into touchdowns. That’s a playmaker right there. Last year, with the Houston Texans, he played all 17 games, adding five sacks, 10 QB hits, and eight tackles for loss to his resume. The contract details are out, but we’re still waiting to hear about his base and guaranteed pay. Considering the Browns were already desperate for edge help even *before* Wright’s season-ending injury, this move makes total sense.
Browns GM Andrew Berry isn’t done, though. With the 53-man roster cuts coming up, you can bet he’s still scouring the market for more available edge players. This Barnett signing is a crucial immediate patch, but Wright’s absence leaves a massive hole that will need more than one guy to fill. It’s an early season gut punch, and now we wait to see if Barnett can deliver for them right now.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
Leave a Reply