Browns Dealt Season-Ending News After Bills Game

USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

Browns Dealt Season-Ending News After Bills Game

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Ayomide Adeduyite | Last updated Aug 23, 2026 12:53 PM ET

The Cleveland Browns returned to action Saturday against the Buffalo Bills for their second preseason game, but the matchup did not go as planned. After a weather delay pushed back kickoff, Cleveland eventually fell 31-7 at home. Shedeur Sanders started at quarterback and provided one of the brighter moments for the Browns, completing 9 of 11 passes for 74 yards, one touchdown and one interception.

Sanders’ performance stood in contrast to Deshaun Watson’s outing. Watson completed just 5 of 12 passes for 35 yards and an interception after entering the game later. The veteran quarterback was also repeatedly booed by the Cleveland crowd, including after an incompletion in the fourth quarter.

The Browns will have another week to assess their offensive and defensive units. Unfortunately for Cleveland, it has now received a major blow following Thursday’s joint practice with Buffalo.

Cleveland Browns defensive end Alex Wright (91).Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Sunday that starting defensive end Alex Wright has been placed on season-ending injured reserve with a ruptured Achilles.

Wright suffered the injury during a one-on-one drill with Bills offensive tackle Spencer Brown and was carted off the practice field.

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.

Wright was carted off the practice field Thursday after getting hurt during a one-on-one drill… pic.twitter.com/RDBRDFeAj9
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 23, 2026

The injury leaves Cleveland without a projected starter opposite Jared Verse and creates another hole along the defensive front. Wright had been expected to play a significant role for the Browns after signing a three-year, $33 million extension in November 2025.

Browns Move Quickly After Alex Wright Injury

Cleveland is already responding to the injury. The Browns signed Derek Barnett, a former first-round pick who has spent the past two seasons with the Houston Texans, to a $5.5 million deal on Sunday, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. Barnett brings nine seasons of NFL experience and has recorded 34 sacks in his career, including five in each of the past two seasons.

The move gives Cleveland an experienced option to help fill the void created by Wright’s absence. The Browns will now have to determine how Barnett, Isaiah McGuire and the rest of the defensive-end rotation fit alongside Verse as the regular season approaches.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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