Cleveland Browns rookie tight end is reportedly entering the transfer portal in an attempt to return to college football for the 2026 season, and Browns head coach Todd Monken said Saturday that he recently heard from LSU head coach Lane Kiffin.
Wright, who was a standout for Kiffin at Ole Miss the last two seasons, was with the Browns ahead of Saturday’s 31-7 preseason loss to the Buffalo Bills. The tight end went unselected in the NFL Draft, landing with the Browns as a free agent.
On Saturday, Wright was in full uniform and pads for the Browns, warming up on the field. He did not play in the Browns’ 31-7 preseason loss.
Monken, never one to shy away from expressing his opinion, acknowledged the absurdity of the situation after the preseason game.
“Man, ain’t this s— crazy?” Cleveland Browns head coach Todd Monken said. “I mean, as far as I know, he’s got a medical issue that wasn’t allowing him to practice. That’s a medical issue, as far as I know.
“It’s got nothing to do with me … and then he was cleared, but it’s hard to put him on the field when you don’t get reps.”
Monken then revealed he received a message from LSU coach Lane Kiffin.
“I wonder why Lane Kiffin reached out a week ago,” Monken said. “Now, I know. I didn’t call back; I guess I should have.”
Kiffin already took advantage of the fifth-year eligibility rules by signing Junior Tuihalamaka, a defensive end from Notre Dame.
NFL agent Drew Rosenhaus went on “” and explained that because Wright filed a lawsuit in h with a group of players, they were granted temporary restraining orders and allowed to return to play in college if he’s waived by the Browns. Wright would also need his NFL contract to be terminated and not be claimed by another NFL team to complete the unprecedented comeback.
“This is crazy,” Rosenhaus said. “This could be the first player to play in the NFL with an NFL team through the combine, through training camp and then go play collegiately.”
Rosenhaus said Wright went undrafted in 2026 in large part due to his injury history. He originally signed with the Philadelphia Eagles for $25,000 guaranteed and a $25,000 signing bonus before being waived and claimed by the Browns.
Defensive end Zxavian Harris and safety Wydett Williams were also former Kiffin players at Ole Miss who were a part of the lawsuit fighting for an extra year of eligibility and have since entered the transfer portal. Harris originally signed with the Saints this past spring.