Browns claim defensive tackle Coziah Izzard, waive Aaron Anderson with injury designation

The Cleveland Browns made a pair of roster moves that reshaped their 2026 training-camp depth chart on Tuesday, claiming defensive tackle Coziah Izzard off waivers from the Arizona franchise. The move gives Cleveland an additional option on the defensive interior as the team works through the usual September roster math.

To create room for Izzard, the Browns waived wide receiver Aaron Anderson with an injury designation. In NFL roster management, injury designations can carry different outcomes depending on how a player clears waivers and the team’s subsequent options, but the practical impact here is that Cleveland used the claim as a way to add depth on one side while reallocating space on the other.

Izzard’s acquisition comes through the waiver process rather than a direct signing, which means Arizona placed the player on the waiver wire and Cleveland successfully pursued him. For a team in training camp, claims like this are often about specific traits, fit, and developmental potential at positions where coaching staffs believe they can find more plays from the depth group.

The Browns’ decision also underscores the pressure on bubble roster spots during August. When teams claim players, they typically must balance scholarship-style roster expansion with the reality of limited active spots, special teams needs, and how quickly players have to translate coaching into on-field execution.

Coziah Izzard’s path in Cleveland will likely hinge on how he performs against live competition in practice and preseason opportunities, particularly in run defense and gap discipline where interior linemen are judged early. With Anderson moved out under an injury designation, Cleveland’s wide receiver competition could become more centered on the remaining options and whoever can separate in the passing game and on special teams.

What to watch next is whether Cleveland’s claimed defensive tackle settles into the team’s early defensive rotation and whether any additional transactions follow from further roster adjustments around Anderson’s status. For now, the Browns have added a defensive piece while streamlining their roster for the next phase of camp.