Hopkins converted his lone field-goal attempt and extra-point kick in Saturday's 35-10 loss to Baltimore in Week 18. Hopkins buried a chip shot from 23 yards early in the second quarter before the game got away from the Browns, who were thinking only about touchdowns the rest of the way. The four points scored were the most for a Cleveland kicker since Week 12. After a very successful 2023 -- one that resulted in a three-year contract in the offseason -- Hopkins went the other way in 2024. Part of that is attributable to an offense that fell apart, but Hopkins made just 18 of 27 (67 percent) of his field-goal tries. That prompted the Browns to bring in kickers to challenge him, and head coach Kevin Stefanski made him inactive for Week 15. The offseason for the 3-14 Browns will bring change, which could include competition for Hopkins.
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Hopkins converted his lone field-goal attempt and extra-point kick in Saturday's 35-10 loss to Baltimore in Week 18. Hopkins buried a chip shot from 23 yards early in the second quarter before the game got away from the Browns, who were thinking only about touchdowns the rest of the way. The four points scored were the most for a Cleveland kicker since Week 12. After a very successful 2023 -- one that resulted in a three-year contract in the offseason -- Hopkins went the other way in 2024. Part of that is attributable to an offense that fell apart, but Hopkins made just 18 of 27 (67 percent) of his field-goal tries. That prompted the Browns to bring in kickers to challenge him, and head coach Kevin Stefanski made him inactive for Week 15. The offseason for the 3-14 Browns will bring change, which could include competition for Hopkins.
Hopkins converted his lone field-goal attempt and did not have an extra-point try in Sunday's 20-3 loss to Miami in Week 17. Hopkins, who missed six of his last nine field-goal attempts, drilled a chip shot from 25 yards for the Browns' only points. Cleveland's offense has not been conducive to kicker scoring since Dorian Thompson-Robinson took over at quarterback. The Browns have scored 16 points over the last three games, and kickers have attempted one field goal during that stretch.
Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said Friday that Hopkins will be the team's kicker Sunday against Miami, Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN.com reports. Hopkins has been struggling mightily of late, and though he didn't attempt any field goals in last Sunday's loss to Cincinnati, he missed his lone extra-point attempt. That performance came one week after Hopkins received a game off to try to get back on the right track following a rough stretch. The veteran placekicker had missed both of his field-goal tries -- both under 50 yards -- the previous week and is just 2-for-7 on attempts since Cleveland's Week 10 bye. Nonetheless, the Browns will stick with Hopkins for at least one more contest despite signing Andre Szmyt to their practice squad Tuesday.
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.