Browns claim former Bengals wide receiver James Wright off waivers

On Monday, the Bengals waived fourth year wide receiver James Wright, a former seventh round draft pick by the Bengals from the 2014 NFL Draft.

Today, Hue Jackson swooped in and claimed the former LSU receiver who spent most of his college years buried on the depth chart behind Odell Beckham Jr. and Jarvis Landry. Wright will now fight for a spot on the Browns’ roster in 2017.

In 2016, Wright played 13 games with the Bengals, catching 13 passes for 106 yards. His 2015 season never took off as he underwent microfracture surgery on his knee, following a PCL injury suffered during his rookie season in 2014. That injury never healed correctly and led to Wright missing more than a season of playing time.

Injuries played a big part in the Bengals parting ways with Wright as he missed three games in 2016 due to knee issues and needed weekly practices off to manage the pain. For such a young player, weekly practices off due to injury are hard to rationalize.

The Browns have no shortage of wide receivers on their roster and that includes 2015 seventh round Bengals draft pick Mario Alford. The other receivers on the Browns' roster are Josh Boyce, Kenny Britt, Corey Coleman, Rannell Hall, Rashard Higgins, Jordan Leslie, Ricardo Louis and Jordan Payton.

Wright will have an uphill climb toward making the Browns’ roster in 2017. Though, Jackson’s familiarity with him should help as he was the Bengals’ offensive coordinator for Wright’s first two seasons in Cincinnati.