Cleveland Browns head coach Todd Monken appeared to be oblivious to rookie tight end Dae’Quan Wright’s very unique situation.
Wright dressed for Cleveland’s 31-7 preseason loss to the Buffalo Bills on Saturday but did not play. Monken said the team had been treating Wright’s recent absence as a medical matter and was unaware of his plans.
“Man, isn’t this (expletive) crazy?” Monken told reporters after the game when asked about Wright. “I don’t even know what to say. As far as I know, he’s had a medical issue that wasn’t allowing him to practice. That’s a medical issue. It has nothing to do with me. He was cleared, so we dressed him just in case we had to have him.”
Monken then acknowledged that a recent call from LSU head coach Lane Kiffin should have tipped him off.
“I don’t know what to say,” Monken said. “I wondered why Lane Kiffin reached out to me a week ago, now I know. I didn’t call him back. I guess I should have.”
Wright is currently in the transfer portal and clearly has options beyond a return to Ole Miss, where he played his final two college seasons. Wright played under Kiffin with the Rebels, but Kiffin is now the head coach at LSU.
Dae’Quan Wright Becomes First Active NFL Player to Enter Portal
Wright became the first active NFL player to enter the college football transfer portal, according to CBS Sports. The unusual move became possible after Wright and several other athletes received temporary relief from a Louisiana court in a lawsuit challenging the NCAA’s eligibility rules. The ruling opened a narrow path for the players to compete in college for another season.
Wright’s NFL contract remains intact, and entering the portal did not automatically remove him from the Browns’ roster. However, he would need Cleveland to release him before the court-imposed deadline to pursue a college opportunity this season.
Wright initially signed with the Philadelphia Eagles as an undrafted free agent. The Browns claimed him off waivers on August 11 while dealing with injuries at tight end.
The 6-foot-4, 246-pound rookie caught 113 passes for 1,603 yards during stops at Virginia Tech and Ole Miss. He earned second-team All-SEC honors last season after recording 39 receptions for 635 yards and five touchdowns.
Browns Facing Questions at Tight End
GettyDae’Quan Wright is attempting to return to the college game despite being on the Browns roster.
Part of the issue is that Cleveland could use Wright. The Browns’ tight end room has already been hit hard by injuries. Jack Stoll was placed on injured reserve, while rookie Joe Royer has been away from the team for personal reasons. Cleveland recently added Jermaine Terry and Drew Biber to stabilize the position, but neither is a proven option.
“It’s a concern,” Monken said of the team’s tight end depth this week. “With all the injuries we’ve had trying to develop some guys, it’s a concern.”
Harold Fannin Jr. is the established leader of the group, with Blake Whiteheart and Carsen Ryan also competing for roles.
For now, Wright remains under contract with Cleveland, though his unprecedented situation appears far from settled.
Browns Coach Blindsided by Rookie’s Attempted College Return