Cleveland Browns add WR James Wright off waiver wire

The Cleveland Browns added wide receiver James Wright off waivers on Tuesday, a player familiar to head coach Hue Jackson from their time in Cincinnati.

The Cleveland Browns made a move to bolster their wide receiver group on Tuesday by claiming James Wright off waivers from the Cincinnati Bengals.

The Browns announced the move on their website.

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Wright was originally a seventh-round selection by the Bengals in the 2014 NFL Draft. He appeared in 11 games as a rookie, recording five receptions, before hurting his knee in a game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in November of that year. That injury led to microfracture surgery and a stint on injured reserve for the entire 2015 season.

Last season the 6-foot and 203-pound Wright appeared in 13 games, making 13 receptions for 106 yards.

OK, so maybe bolster is too strong a term to use with Wright, who didn’t do much with the Bengals nor while in college at LSU, where he was behind Odell Beckham Jr. and Jarvis Landry on the Tigers’ depth chart.

That was reflected in his draft profile from 2014, which focused more on Wright’s special teams ability than his production as a wide receiver:

"Experienced in a pro-style offense. Versatile and has played multiple receiver positions. Experienced gunner and jammer. Very good pro day workout, registering a 4.46-second 40-yard time, 38 1/2-inch vertical jump and 10-foot-8 broad jump, highlighting his lower-body explosion. Solid special teams coverage contributor, affecting games as a senior. Never a full-time starter and was phased out of the receiving game as an upperclassmen. Marginal career receiving production (zero catches as a senior). Average 4.32-second 20-yard shuttle time."

The thing that Wright has working in his favor is that he is familiar with head coach Hue Jackson, who talked up Wright in a 2015 article at bengals.com, after they spent time together in Cincinnati:

"“I have a lot of trust in James with his speed, athleticism and toughness. He knows how to play. He knows what to do. He does it with confidence. A lot of people say we won’t play young guys, but we play the best players. If you have a chance to help us, we’ll play you.”"

But it is going to be difficult for Wright to make the team as a wide receiver as the position is already crowded with veteran Kenny Britt and second-year players Corey Coleman, Ricardo Louis, Rashard Higgins, Jordan Payton, Rannell Hall and Mario Alford.

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Given the sheer volume of receivers on the roster, and his injury history, the outside chance that Wright has of making the roster would likely only come through his special teams play.

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