The Browns’ pass rush group will be shorthanded for the rest of the year. Alex Wright announced on Thursday he is dealing with a triceps injury which will require season-ending surgery. 
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The third-year defensive end first encountered the issue during joint practices in the summer. He felt pain in Week 2 and underwent an MRI to determine the severity of the injury. After playing through the issue for two more contests, Wright went through a second MRI, this time learning he suffered a partial tear. The required procedure will shut him down for the remainder of the campaign.
A third-round pick in 2022, Wright handled a notable 50% defensive snap share during his rookie season. Ogbonnia Okoronkwo‘s free agent arrival in 2023 gave Cleveland another option along the edge, however, and the same was true of Za’Darius Smith. With those two taking on considerable workloads, Wright saw a drop in playing time.
In spite of that, the UAB product racked up five sacks and eight pressures. That led to high expectations for a strong season in 2024 with Okoronkwo and Smith remaining in place as complements to Myles Garrett. Wright recorded eight tackles and one sack this year while playing at less than 100%. He will aim to return to full health in time for the 2025 campaign, the final year of his rookie deal.
In the interim, Garrett, Okoronkwo and Smith and will be counted on to carry the load in the pass-rushing department. The likes of Isaiah McGuire and Sam Kamara represent options to take on a larger defensive role in Wright’s absence. Cleveland currently has 11 sacks on the year, but the team’s depth with respect to increasing that figure moving forward has taken a hit.