Browns Grab TE Dae'Quan Wright Off Waivers, Lose Mathis to IR
Cleveland claimed the undrafted rookie tight end off Philadelphia's wire while Damarri Mathis lands on IR after a scary Tuesday practice injury.
Undrafted rookie TE with zero NFL snaps; nothing to add yet.
- Wright claimed off waivers from Eagles
- 39 catches, 635 yards, 5 TDs final college season
- Went undrafted out of Ole Miss
- Mathis carted off Browns practice Tuesday
- Mathis tore ACL before last season too
The Browns made a quiet but telling move on the daily transaction wire, claiming tight end Dae'Quan Wright off waivers from the Eagles. To make room, Cleveland placed defensive back Damarri Mathis on injured reserve — a corresponding move that closes the door on his 2026 before it really opened.
Wright arrives as an undrafted prospect out of Ole Miss, where he posted 39 catches for 635 yards and five touchdowns in his final college campaign. That's a solid receiving profile for the position, but he's yet to log a single NFL snap, which is the number that matters most for anyone eyeing him in fantasy circles.
The Mathis Situation
Mathis was carted off during Tuesday's Browns practice, and the timing is brutal. He tore his ACL at a Panthers practice ahead of last season, so this could be back-to-back lost years for the defensive back. That's not a fantasy concern in standard leagues, but it's a gut-punch for a player fighting to reestablish himself.
What It Means for Cleveland's Depth
The Wright claim is a depth-and-development play, not a signal that the Browns see an immediate starter. Rookie tight ends with no pro reps rarely produce fantasy value out of the gate, and Cleveland's target tree at the position isn't handing anything to a fresh waiver claim. File him under camp-body-with-upside for now.
For fantasy managers, this is a name-in-the-notebook situation, nothing more. Wright's college receiving line suggests he can play, but undrafted tight ends need a preseason and a training camp to earn trust before they earn touches. Don't spend a waiver claim; just track his snap counts through the exhibition slate and revisit if he flashes.
