The Browns’ pass-rush group shall be shorthanded for the remainder of the yr. Alex Wright introduced on Thursday he’s coping with a triceps damage which would require season-ending surgical procedure.
The third-year defensive finish first encountered the problem throughout joint practices in the summertime. He felt ache in Week 2 and underwent an MRI to find out the severity of the damage. After enjoying by the problem for 2 extra contests, Wright went by a second MRI, this time studying he suffered a partial tear. The required process will shut him down for the rest of the marketing campaign.
A 3rd-round choose in 2022, Wright dealt with a notable 50% defensive snap share throughout his rookie season. Ogbonnia Okoronkwo‘s free-agent arrival in 2023 gave Cleveland an alternative choice alongside the sting, nevertheless, with the identical being true of Za’Darius Smith. With these two taking over appreciable workloads, Wright noticed a drop in enjoying time.
Despite that, the UAB product racked up 5 sacks and eight pressures over the last marketing campaign. That led to excessive expectations for a powerful season in 2024 with Okoronkwo and Smith remaining in place as enhances to Myles Garrett. Wright recorded eight tackles and one sack this yr whereas enjoying at lower than 100%. He’ll intention to return to full well being in time for the 2025 marketing campaign, the ultimate yr of his rookie deal.
Within the interim, Garrett, Okoronkwo and Smith and shall be counted on to hold the load within the pass-rushing division. The likes of Isaiah McGuire and Sam Kamara characterize choices to tackle a bigger defensive function in Wright’s absence. Cleveland at present has 11 sacks on the yr, however the workforce’s depth with respect to rising that determine shifting ahead has taken a success.
