Browns coach Kevin Stefanski became aware of Cody Parkey's quad injury just before his team's preseason win over the Giants on Sunday. On Monday, the team placed the former Pro Bowl kicker on injured reserve. Parkey won't be able to return to the Browns' active roster this season but he could sign with another team as long as he is released off injured reserve.
Last season, the 29-year-old kicker made 19 of his 22 field goal attempts and 43 of his 47 point-after attempts. While he didn't attempt a single field goal of over 50 yards in 2020, Parkey is 8 of 10 on field goals of at least that distance over the course of his career. In 2014, Parkey was selected to the Pro Bowl after hitting each of his four field goal attempts of at least 50 yards. He connected on 54-yard field goals in 2014 and in 2017.
With Parkey out, three-year veteran Chase McLaughlin drilled a 49-yard field goal during Sunday's 17-13 win over the Giants. An undrafted rookie in 2019, the 25-year-old kicker has made 22 of his 28 field goal attempts and all but one of his 32 extra-point attempts in 15 regular season games. McLaughlin is 4 of 5 on kicks of at least 50 yards. He had a career-long 52-yard kick as a member of the Jaguars last season.
"He's battling," Stefanski said of McLaughlin on Sunday, via ESPN's Jake Trotter. "He's doing a nice job. Expect him to keep battling."
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