Aug 26, 2023; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski looks on during the second half against the Kansas City Chiefs at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
Browns Ink Former Lions Kicker to Replace Injured Dustin Hopkins
The Cleveland Browns must replace elite kicker Dustin Hopkins for the stretch run of the regular season, and it appears they made their decision on Christmas Day.
Cleveland inked kicker Riley Patterson to the practice squad on Monday, December 25, one day after Hopkins suffered a hamstring injury against the Houston Texans.
“The Cleveland Browns have signed K Riley Patterson to the practice squad,” per the team’s official website.
Riley Patterson Has Been Solid During NFL Career, Despite Lions’ Recent Choice to Cut Him
GettyKicker Riley Patterson of the Detroit Lions attempts a field goal during an NFL game against the Denver Broncos.
Patterson got his start with the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent in 2021 coming out of Memphis. He never played for the purple and gold during that season, but did catch on with the Detroit Lions later in the year.
The kicker was nearly perfect for the Lions in seven games during his rookie campaign, connecting on 13-of-14 field goals and making all 16 of his extra point tries. Patterson played all 17 games for the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2022 before rejoining the Lions this season.
He made good on 15-of-17 field goals and 35-of-37 extra point tries through 13 games in Detroit before the franchise abruptly dumped him two weeks ago in favor of six-year veteran Michael Badgley.
Patterson missed both of his extra points on the year during his final three games with Detroit, one in a 29-22 loss to the Green Bay Packers on November 23 and the other in a 28-13 loss against the Chicago Bears on December 10.
Over the course of his three-year career, which spans 37 games played, Patterson is 58-of-66 on field goal tries and 87-of-90 on extra point attempts, per Pro Football Reference.
Browns’ Dustin Hopkins Among Best Kickers in NFL this Season
GettyCleveland Browns kicker Dustin Hopkins was on the verge of making the Pro Bowl before suffering a hamstring injury against the Houston Texans in December 2023.
Hopkins’ hamstring strain against the Texans on Sunday represents the most recent stroke of awful injury luck for the Browns in 2023.
