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Browns sign Derek Barnett following Alex Wright's Achilles injury

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Aug 23, 2026, 7:00 PM

Last updated Aug 23, 2026

Browns sign Derek Barnett following Alex Wright's Achilles injury

Summary

The Cleveland Browns have signed former first-round pick Derek Barnett in response to Alex Wright suffering a season-ending Achilles tear during their second preseason game. Wright was expected to start alongside Jared Verse but has now been placed on injured reserve. The Browns had been looking to strengthen their pass-rushing depth and had previously worked out other defensive ends before signing Barnett. With 34 career sacks over nine seasons, Barnett may compete for a starting role in Cleveland.

Source Links

Yahoo Sports

Status Watch

•Alex Wright placed on injured reserve after tearing his Achilles tendon.
•Derek Barnett signed to fill the void on the defensive line.
•Barnett was the 14th overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft.
•He has recorded five sacks in each of the past two seasons.
•Browns are looking to enhance pass-rusher depth ahead of the season.

Latest Updates

7:00 PMYahoo Sports — Cleveland Browns Sign Former First-Round Pass-Rusher After Alex Wright Achilles Tear

What they're saying

"
The Cleveland Browns‘ second preseason game didn’t quite go according to plan on Saturday. The starting quarterback battle didn’t point […]
— Yahoo Sports

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