Hopkins did not attempt a field goal and missed his lone extra-point try in Sunday's 24-6 loss to Cincinnati in Week 16. Hopkins, who was inactive Week 15 amid a five-game stretch of missed kicks, added another failed attempt to what has been a season gone wrong for both him and the Browns. The extra-point miss was Hopkins' third in 19 attempts; he's also missed nine of 25 field-goal tries. The kicker who replaced Hopkins last week, Riley Patterson, was poached by Atlanta off Cleveland's practice squad. As of Monday, the Browns don't have a backup option in place heading into Week 17 against Miami.
Unlock the latest Cleveland Browns news — direct to your inbox.
Status
ACTIVELatest Dustin Hopkins news
Team
Cleveland Browns
Birthdate
10/1/1990 (34)
Status
Active
HT/WT
6'2", 210 lbs
Draft Info
2013: Rd 6; Pk (BUF)
Birthplace
Austin, TX, USA
Position
K
College
Florida State
Experience
11 seasons
Career History
Cleveland Browns
2023-Present
(2 seasons)
Los Angeles Chargers
2021-2023
(3 seasons)
Washington Commanders
2015-2021
(7 seasons)
New Orleans Saints
2015-2015
(1 season)
Buffalo Bills
2013-2014
(1 season)
Hopkins did not attempt a field goal and missed his lone extra-point try in Sunday's 24-6 loss to Cincinnati in Week 16. Hopkins, who was inactive Week 15 amid a five-game stretch of missed kicks, added another failed attempt to what has been a season gone wrong for both him and the Browns. The extra-point miss was Hopkins' third in 19 attempts; he's also missed nine of 25 field-goal tries. The kicker who replaced Hopkins last week, Riley Patterson, was poached by Atlanta off Cleveland's practice squad. As of Monday, the Browns don't have a backup option in place heading into Week 17 against Miami.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Hopkins converted his lone field-goal attempt and extra-point kick 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 shaken snow globe. The Browns went for two points after their two fourth-quarter touchdowns, one due to the conditions and the other 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.