Browns lose Alex Wright for season as they sign a replacement
New York Post • • sports
Key Points:
- Browns defensive end Alex Wright is out for the 2026 season after suffering a ruptured Achilles during a joint practice with the Bills, ending his season prematurely.
- Wright, a 2022 third-round pick, has appeared in 51 games with 15 starts, recording 98 tackles and 11.5 sacks, and recently signed a three-year, $33 million extension in November 2025.
- To bolster their defensive line, the Browns signed veteran defensive end Derek Barnett to a one-year contract worth up to $5.5 million; Barnett has 34 career sacks and was part of the Eagles' 2017 Super Bowl-winning team.
- Isaiah McGuire is expected to step up as a starter opposite Jared Verse, following Wright's injury; McGuire has 5.5 sacks in three seasons and was a 2023 fourth-round pick.
- The Browns acquired Jared Verse and multiple draft picks in a trade with the Rams that sent star pass rusher Myles Garrett to Los Angeles during the 2026 offseason.
