Cleveland Browns defensive end Alex Wright left the field on a cart Thursday after suffering an apparent leg injury during a joint practice with the Buffalo Bills.
The incident occurred during a one-on-one drill against Bills offensive tackle Spencer Brown. Wright’s leg was secured in an immobilizer as medical staff helped him onto the cart and removed him from the field.
Team officials offered no immediate details on the severity of the injury. The timing raised concern among observers because Wright holds an important place on a defensive line still adjusting after major changes.
Wright signed a three-year, $33 million contract extension with the Browns last November. The agreement included $21 million in guarantees and keeps him under contract through the 2028 season.
At 25, Wright is now the longest-tenured player on Cleveland’s defensive line. That status followed the trade that sent longtime star Myles Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams earlier this year.
The Browns received Jared Verse as part of the Garrett deal. Wright was expected to help fill the leadership and production void left by Garrett’s departure.
Wright enjoyed the strongest season of his career in 2025. He finished with 37 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks and nine quarterback hits across 14 games.
During the offseason, Wright made clear he was ready to assume a larger role without Garrett on the roster. He spoke about the need for someone to step forward and maintain the unit’s standards.
“Somebody gotta take control, like somebody has to take charge,” Wright said. “So, just trying to step into that role. It just don’t have to be me, it could be all of us. But I’m taking on that ownership, that just because he’s gone, that doesn’t mean the standard that he set since he’s been here, since he was a rookie, is going to change.”
He left little doubt about his personal commitment to the group’s performance.
“There’s not going to be a drop off,” Wright said. “I won’t let that happen.”
The Browns had already been looking for additional experienced help at the edge positions before Thursday’s practice. They explored possible returns for veterans Jadeveon Clowney and Za’Darius Smith but came up empty.
Clowney signed with the Houston Texans. Smith agreed to a one-year contract with the Atlanta Falcons.
In their place, Cleveland added Jamil Muhammad, an undrafted free agent from the 2025 class. Muhammad has not yet played in a regular-season NFL game. He previously spent time with the Los Angeles Rams and on the Carolina Panthers’ practice squad.
Muhammad posted 10.5 sacks in his final college season at USC. His professional experience remains limited compared with the veterans the Browns had pursued.
Cleveland still has Verse to anchor the pass rush, along with Isaiah McGuire and several younger players. A lengthy absence for Wright could force the team to revisit the free-agent market before the regular season begins.
The Browns and Bills are scheduled to meet again Saturday in a preseason game. Most starters on both sides were not expected to see significant playing time in that contest.
