Cleveland Browns Sign two professional Kickers to the Practice Squad with Injury to Dustin Hopkins
BEREA, Ohio— The Cleveland Browns had to make a quick move with the hamstring injury to kicker Dustin Hopkins on a short week with the Browns playing the New York Jets on Thursday night.
On Christmas Day, the Browns signed kicker Riley Patterson to the practice squad.
Patterson, 24, played 13 games with the Lions this season and was 15-of-17 (88.2 pct.). In his career, Patterson is 58-of-66 (87.9 pct.) in 37 games.
Patterson (6-0, 195) is in his third NFL season out of Memphis. Originally signed by the Vikings as an undrafted free agent in 2021, Patterson has appeared in 37 career games with the Lions (2021 and 2023) and Jaguars (2022). In addition to the 58 of 66 field goal attempts, he has made 87 of 90 PATs. This season, he appeared in 13 games with the Lions and converted 15 of 17 field goal attempts.
The Lions recently decided to change to kicker Michael Badgley and released Patterson.
The Browns have not given an update on Hopkins injury status, as of yet. The Browns will practice on Tuesday in Berea and there will be an injury report.
With the help of a great performance from quarterback Joe Flacco, wide receiver Amari Cooper was at the peak of his powers in a record-setting performance that helped the Cleveland Browns defeat the Houston Texans.
In a tumultuous season defined by adversity on the offensive side of the ball, Amari Cooper has been the Cleveland Browns’ constant; its North Star. With Joe Flacco at the helm, the Browns followed Cooper to a 265-yard, two-touchdown performance, allowing the Browns to get their tenth victory of the season over the Houston Texans.
The previous five seasons, the Browns offense went as running back Nick Chubb did. And after he went out for the year with injury, the compass was supposed to be quarterback Deshaun Watson. Now, on their fourth different quarterback of the season, the one aspect of the Browns offense that has remained true has been Amari Cooper. On a team that has had to endure so much change over the course of the season, he’s been their guiding light.
Cooper now has five games with at least 100 yards this season. The Browns have won all five. No one is debating whether he fits with a particular quarterback. Cooper has produced with all of them, including 108 yards with P.J. Walker at quarterback in a pivotal victory over the San Francisco 49ers. As long as someone is throwing him the ball, Cooper makes plays.
In Houston, Cooper was at the peak of his powers. He showed everything in his arsenal. Size. Strength. Speed. Technique. Cooper beat the Texans’ defenders at the catch point as much as he beat them with precision route running and body control.
It turned out the only thing that could slow down Cooper was common sense. The Browns, who faced with the prospect of hosting the New York Jets in just four days, were trying to save their guys some wear and tear when they were up 36-7. They pulled their starters with a four-score lead. The Texans were able to rally to two touchdowns, forcing the Browns to put their starters back on the field. That enabled Cooper to break the franchise record for receiving yards in a game previously held by Josh Gordon.
