Former BYU Cougars tight end Carsen Ryan’s brief stay on the Cleveland Browns’ active roster has taken another turn.

On Thursday, the Browns announced they had waived the 2026 seventh-round pick, just one day after signing him from the practice squad back to the 53-man roster.

The Utah product’s path to the NFL ran through Provo. After early stops at UCLA and Utah, Ryan transferred to BYU for his final college season in 2025 and became a key piece in the Cougars’ offense.

He finished with 45 receptions for 620 yards and three touchdowns across 14 games, helping BYU post a 12-2 record—the program’s first 12-win season since 2001.

Ryan saved some of his best work for the postseason. In the Pop-Tarts Bowl against Georgia Tech, he set career highs with eight catches for 120 yards as the Cougars rallied from an 11-point halftime deficit for a 25-21 win.

The performance pushed him over 1,000 career receiving yards and capped a productive year in which he emerged as a reliable option in the passing game for a team that thrived in the Big 12.

Cleveland selected the 6-foot-3, 255-pound tight end with the 248th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.

As a rookie, Ryan has appeared in seven games but has largely been limited to special teams work, logging roughly 85 snaps there compared to just two on offense and recording no receptions.

He was initially waived in late October to clear a roster spot when the Browns activated quarterback Dillon Gabriel from injured reserve, cleared waivers, and returned to the practice squad before being elevated and then formally signed to the active roster on November 4.

Thursday’s waiver, coming so soon after that promotion and with no injury noted, has drawn notice for its timing, especially with the NFL trade deadline approaching.

For Cougars fans, the move is a reminder of the narrow margins late-round rookies often face.

Ryan contributed meaningfully to a memorable BYU season, and his physical tools and college production remain part of his profile as he seeks his next opportunity—whether back in Cleveland’s orbit on the practice squad or elsewhere.

The former American Fork and Timpview standout’s professional journey is still in its early stages.

What he showed in Provo in 2025 demonstrated he can contribute when given a defined role; the challenge now is finding consistent snaps at the next level.