Browns Waive TE Wright, Paving Way for Historic Return to LSU

Cleveland Browns tight end DaeQuan Wright is set to become the first player in modern football history to return to college after signing an NFL contract and participating in preseason games, following the team's decision to waive him on August 23, 2026. If Wright clears waivers, he has an agreement in place to join the LSU Tigers for the 2026 season, a move made possible by a recent Louisiana court ruling on NCAA eligibility.

Wright, an undrafted rookie from the University of Ole Miss, signed with the Philadelphia Eagles in May 2026 before being waived and claimed by the Browns in mid-August. He participated in Cleveland's training camp and appeared in a preseason game before the team released him. According to his agents, Drew Rosenhaus and Kyle Lincoln, a deal with LSU is contingent on him going unclaimed by other NFL teams during the waiver period.

The unprecedented path back to college football is enabled by a temporary restraining order issued by a Louisiana judge. Wright is one of approximately 30 athletes, including 16 football players, involved in a lawsuit challenging the NCAA's eligibility rules. The court order prevents the NCAA from denying eligibility to the named...