The majority of NFL teams feel optimistic about their prospects at this time of year. With young players developing in training camp and the preseason, a little luck could change the fortune of most teams in the league. The Cleveland Browns do not look like one of those teams that can make a miraculous turnaround this fall.
New head coach Todd Monken is expected to name a starting quarterback this week, coming just days after embattled veteran Deshaun Watson trashed the Browns fan base. Watson was expected by many around the league to win the job, if not for talent reasons, because the Browns' brass have a vested interest in not looking stupid if the quarterback goes somewhere else next year and looks competent. Cleveland's leadership was already coming under fire for trading superstar Myles Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams this offseason.
The Browns received two-time Pro Bowl defensive end Jared Verse and three draft picks in return, which certainly helped the defense's prospects after losing its best player. More News: Three Teams That Can Win the Big 12 More News: Kirk Herbstreit Calls Out Notre Dame for ‘Embarrassing’ Schedule However, the defense suffered a critical blow for the upcoming season. Per Adam Schefter of ESPN, Browns defensive end Alex Wright, who was supposed to start opposite Verse, suffered a ruptured Achilles and has been placed on season-ending injured reserve.
Cleveland signed defensive end Derek Barnett in a corresponding move. "ESPN sources: The Browns are placing starting DE Alex Wright on season-ending injured reserve with a ruptured Achilles, and they now will sign former first-round pick DE Derek Barnett," Schefter posted on X. "Wright was carted off the practice field Thursday after getting hurt during a one-on-one drill with Bills OT Spencer Brown.
"Tests later revealed a season-ending ruptured Achilles." Wright had his best year in 2025, when he recorded 37 tackles, 12 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks. The Browns brought in defensive ends Jadeveon Clowney and Za’Darius Smith for workouts, but Clowney signed with the Houston Texans and Smith signed with the Atlanta Falcons. Barnett, 30, appeared in 17 games for the Texans last season, recording 21 tackles and five sacks.
The injury news for Wright is another blow to the Browns on Sunday, who were already the butt of headlines due to Watson's inflammatory comments on Saturday. Monken noted that the Browns' best chance to mend fences with the fan base was to win, but the prospects of a winning season seem daunting for a team with a quarterback who feels the team must play 17 road games this year. For more on the Browns and the NFL, head to Newsweek Sports.
Extract — continue reading at the source.
