The Cleveland Browns made a roster move on Tuesday that reflects the harsh realities of training camp competition and the need to address depth concerns.
The team waived undrafted rookie wide receiver Aaron Anderson with an injury designation after he suffered a right shoulder injury during Tuesday’s practice. In his place, Cleveland claimed defensive tackle Coziah Izzard off waivers from the Arizona Cardinals.
Anderson had signed with the Browns in May after earning a tryout invitation to the team’s rookie minicamp. The 5-foot-8, 198-pound receiver arrived from LSU, where he played in 33 games across three seasons and recorded 106 receptions for 1,341 yards and five touchdowns.
His combination of speed and elusiveness after the catch offered some promise as a potential return specialist or depth piece at the bottom of the receiving corps. Yet the path was always steep. Jerry Jeudy anchors the group, while highly regarded rookies KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston are expected to contribute immediately.
A long list of other receivers, including Isaiah Bond, Tylan Wallace, Malachi Corley, Jamari Thrash, Cedric Tillman, and Luke Floriea, further crowded the competition. The shoulder injury effectively ended Anderson’s already difficult bid to stick on the 53-man roster.
Should he clear waivers, he would revert to the Browns’ injured reserve list unless the sides agree to an injury settlement, leaving open a slim chance of a later return once healthy.
The decision to claim Izzard speaks to more pressing needs along the defensive line. The 24-year-old, listed at 6-foot-3 and 305 pounds, began his professional career as an undrafted free agent with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2025.
He later spent time on the New Orleans Saints’ practice squad and signed a reserve/futures deal before being released in June. Arizona brought him in just before camp, only to waive him this week.
Cleveland moved quickly to add the former Penn State product, who appeared in 51 college games with seven starts and finished his career with 78 tackles, 17.5 tackles for loss, nine sacks, and two forced fumbles.
Izzard arrives at a moment when the Browns are actively shoring up interior defensive line depth. Maliek Collins opened camp on the active/physically unable to perform list, and the team recently signed former UFL standout Travis Bell.
Additional absences from practice by players such as Mike Hall Jr. and Sam Kamara have only heightened the urgency.
With the preseason opener against the Chicago Bears scheduled for Aug. 15, Izzard will have little time to impress, but the move gives Cleveland another developmental body to evaluate as they prepare for the exhibition schedule and the eventual cutdown to the regular-season roster.
