Head coach Kevin Stefanski said that Hopkins will kick next Sunday against the Bengals, Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN.com reports.
Hopkins, who had been struggling of late, was made inactive for the Browns' Week 15 loss to the Chiefs, with Riley Patterson handling kicking duties in his place. With regard to Hopkins, Stefanski said that the team thought it was best to give the veteran kicker the week off considering his recent rough stretch.
... See More... See Less
Browns' Dustin Hopkins: Inactive versus Kansas City
Rotowire
Hopkins is inactive for Sunday's game against the Chiefs.
Hopkins has missed six of his last nine field goals, and the Browns have elected to have him sit out Sunday's contest. In his place, Riley Patterson is slated to handle the team's Week 15 kicking duties.
... See More... See Less
Browns' Dustin Hopkins: Week 15 status uncertain
Rotowire
Hopkins said Friday that he has not yet been told if he will be the kicker for Week 15 against the Chiefs, Chris Easterling of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.
Hopkins has missed six of his last nine field-goal attempts, including two last Sunday, which prompted the Browns to add kicker Riley Patterson to the practice team. After initially voicing support that Hopkins remains the team's kicker, head coach Kevin Stefanski wavered Wednesday, when he said coaches will "work through all that" when referring to which of the two placekickers will be active Sunday. Hopkins added he had a good week of practice and feels confident going into the weekend. Whether it's Hopkins or Patterson kicking Sunday, the offense often plays from behind and is not conducive to a high volume of kicker-scoring opportunities.
... See More... See Less
Browns' Dustin Hopkins: Status as team's kicker shaky
Rotowire
Head coach Kevin Stefanski said Wednesday that he continues to view Hopkins as the Browns' kicker, but the team "will work through" evaluating the position this week heading into Sunday's game against the Chiefs, Chris Easterling of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.
Hopkins missed two field-goal attempts during Cleveland's 27-14 loss to Pittsburgh in Week 14, and across 13 appearances this season, he's converted just 16 of 25 attempts. The veteran's 64 percent conversion rate stands as the worst mark of his career by a significant margin. The Browns signed kicker Riley Patterson to the practice squad on Tuesday, an indication that continued struggles on Hopkins' part could lead to a changing of the guard.
... See More... See Less
Browns' Dustin Hopkins: No kicking change
Rotowire
Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said Hopkins remains the team's kicker, Kelsey Russo of the Browns' official site reports.
Hopkins, who missed two field goals during Sunday's 27-14 loss to Pittsburgh, is fighting a slump this season. He's converted just 16 of 25 attempts. At this point, with Cleveland eliminated from the postseason, another kicker isn't going to solve the team's many issues, but it's likely there will be a competition next summer.
... See More... See Less
Browns' Dustin Hopkins: Two misses in loss
Rotowire
Hopkins misfired on both field-goal attempts and converted two extra-point kicks in Sunday's 27-14 loss to the Steelers in Week 14.
Hopkins missed wide left on a 38-yarder just before halftime and wasn't close on a 43-yarder he pushed on the first drive coming out of the break. If converted, those two field goals would have tied the game at 13-13. The Browns were in position to add another field goal in the fourth quarter, but coach Kevin Stefanski opted to punt, down 27-7 at the time, from the Steelers' 39-yard line. Hopkins has missed kicks in four of the last five games, going 3-for-9 during that stretch. There will most certainly be a competition next summer for the placekicking job.
... See More... See Less
Browns' Dustin Hopkins: One miss in loss
Rotowire
Hopkins converted one of two field-goal attempts and all three extra-point kicks in Monday's 41-32 loss to the Broncos in Week 13.
Hopkins missed from 47 yards out on Cleveland's opening drive and connected from 45 yards in the second quarter. The six-point night was the most in four games for Hopkins. The placekicker's 70-percent accuracy rate (16-of-23) on field goals is the least of the Browns' issues, but it wouldn't be surprising to see the team bring in competition next summer.
... See More... See Less
Browns' Dustin Hopkins: Makes both kicks in win
Rotowire
Hopkins converted his lone field-goal attempt and only extra-point try in Thursday's 24-19 win over Pittsburgh in Week 12.
Both of Hopkins' chances came in the first half before the weather conditions turned the stadium into a shaken snow globe. The Browns went for two points after their two fourth-quarter touchdowns due to the conditions, though one was also a logical decision based on the score. The Browns' sputtering offense under Deshaun Watson earlier this season was not conducive to kicker scoring, but Hopkins' shaky season continued even as the offense improved in recent weeks with Jameis Winston under center. Hopkins ranks 27th in scoring among kickers with 56 points through 11 games played.
... See More... See Less
Browns' Dustin Hopkins: Minimal role in loss
Rotowire
Hopkins made one of two field-goal attempts and his lone extra-point kick in Sunday's 27-10 loss to the Chargers in Week 9.
Hopkins connected from 38 yards early in the second quarter and later had a 51-yard attempt blocked. He's stuck on a team whose offense has been one of the worst in the league and doesn't project to get much better.
... See More... See Less
Browns' Dustin Hopkins: Perfect in win
Rotowire
Hopkins converted all three field-goal attempts and both extra-point kicks in Sunday's 29-24 win over Baltimore in Week 8.
Hopkins connected from 28, 33 and 48 yards and had a season-high 11 points. The kicking game, like the entire offense, benefitted from Jameis Winston starting at quarterback in place of the injured Deshaun Watson (Achilles). Winston sparked what had been a dormant offense and could lead to more kicker scoring. Hopkins has been shaky the last few weeks and already has the same number of missed kicks this season than he had over 17 games in 2023.
... See More... See Less
Browns' Dustin Hopkins: Shut out in Week 7 loss
Rotowire
Hopkins missed his lone field-goal attempt and only extra-point kick in Sunday's 21-14 loss to Cincinnati in Week 7.
Hopkins was wide left on a 49-yard field goal attempt and missed left on the extra-point try. He had a strong season for the Browns last year, but things haven't gone as smoothly for the placekicker or the Browns' offense in 2024. Hopkins has missed five kicks in seven games, the same number of misses over 15 games last season.
... See More... See Less
Browns' Dustin Hopkins: Costly XP miss
Rotowire
Hopkins successfully converted his lone field-goal attempt and one of two extra-point kicks in Sunday's 20-16 loss to Las Vegas in Week 4.
Hopkins rebounded from his first FGA miss in Week 3 by driving one through the uprights from 56 yards away, but the extra-point fail was costly. He was wide left early in the fourth quarter, a kick that would have left the Browns one score down instead of two had it been successful. That later proved to be critical when when Deshaun Watson was sacked inside the red zone on fourth down on the team's final possession. It's unlikely the miss will impact Hopkins' job, and the 1-3 Browns have many more pressing issues to address than their placekicker.
... See More... See Less
Browns' Dustin Hopkins: Not on injury report
Rotowire
Hopkins (undisclosed) is not listed on Wednesday's injury report, Scott Petrak of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram reports.
Hopkins is ready to roll for Sunday's season opener against the Cowboys. The veteran kicker dealt with an undisclosed minor injury during the second half of August, but Hopkins never appeared at major risk of missing Week 1.
... See More... See Less
Browns' Dustin Hopkins: Agrees to three-year extension
Rotowire
Hopkins agreed to terms Monday on a three-year, $15.9 million extension with the Browns, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Hopkins' extension ties him to Cleveland through the 2027 campaign and makes him the fifth-highest-paid kicker in the NFL, tied with Ka'imi Fairbairn at $5.3 million annually. Across 15 games last season, the veteran kicker converted 33 of 36 field-goal attempts and 24 of 26 extra-point tries. At 92 percent, Hopkins' field-goal conversion rate in 2023 was the highest of his career.
... See More... See Less
Browns' Dustin Hopkins: Remains out Week 18
Rotowire
Hopkin (hamstring) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Bengals, Scott Petrak of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram reports.
Hopkins will sit out a second consecutive game to close out the regular season. Riley Patterson filled in for him in Week 17 and will likely do so again Sunday, while Hopkins will set his sights on trying to heal up in time for the wild-card round of the playoffs after making 33 of 36 field-goal attempts in the regular season.
... See More... See Less
Browns' Dustin Hopkins: Misses practice Thursday
Rotowire
Hopkins (hamstring) did not participate at the Browns' practice Thursday.
Hopkins remained sidelined Thursday, and he's yet to return to practice following the hamstring injury he suffered in Week 16 against the Texans. At this point, it seems like Riley Patterson will operate at Cleveland's starting kicker again in Week 18 versus Cincinnati.
... See More... See Less
Browns' Dustin Hopkins: No listed activity Monday
Rotowire
Hopkins (left hamstring) was listed as a non-participant on Monday's estimated injury report, Scott Petrak of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram reports.
Hopkins injured his left hamstring while attempting to tackle Texans running back Dameon Pierce on the latter's 98-yard kickoff return for a touchdown early in the second quarter of Sunday's 36-22 win. He wasn't able to perform any of his typical placekicking duties thereafter, and coach Kevin Stefanski told Jake Trotter of ESPN.com after the game that Hopkins was in line for an MRI. The result of those tests haven't been revealed, but the Browns signed Riley Patterson to their practice squad Monday as insurance in the event Hopkins is unable to play Thursday versus the Jets.
... See More... See Less
Browns' Dustin Hopkins: Headed to Cleveland
Rotowire
The Browns signed Patterson to their practice squad Monday.
Patterson will head to Cleveland to provide an insurance option for Dustin Hopkins, who injured his hamstring during Sunday's win versus the Texans. Patterson converted on 15 of his 17 field-goal attempts in 13 games for the Lions this season and could start against the Jets on Thursday if Hopkins is unable to suit up.
... See More... See Less
Browns' Dustin Hopkins: Set to undergo MRI
Rotowire
Hopkins is slated to undergo an MRI on his hamstring, Jake Trotter of ESPN.com reports.
Hopkins was forced out of Sunday's 36-22 win over the Texans with a hamstring injury after making two extra-point tries. Given the Browns' upcoming short week, the kicker's status for Thursday's game against the Jets could be in danger.
... See More... See Less
Browns' Dustin Hopkins: Won't return Sunday
Rotowire
Hopkins won't return to Sunday's game against the Texans after sustaining a hamstring injury, Kelsey Russo of the Browns' official site reports.
Prior to exiting Sunday's contest, Hopkins made both of his extra-point tries. Per Doc Louallen of the Browns' official site, the kicker injured his hamstring with 12:04 left in the second quarter after chasing Houston RB Dameon Pierce on a 98-yard kick return that resulted in a TD.