Browns Add Kicker Amidst Injury Concern For Dustin Hopkins

After kicker Dustin Hopkins left the Browns win over Houston with a hamstring injury, the team is making contingency plans in case he's unable to suit up against the Jets on Thursday night

The injury bug doesn't rest, even on Christmas. Cleveland is dealing with another potentially costly injury this time to a key member of the special teams unit as kicker Dustin Hopkins is dealing with a hamstring injury and was listed as DNP on Monday as the team quickly got back to work ahead of a Thursday Night showdown with the Jets.

The Browns announced the addition of Riley Patterson to the practice squad on Monday. The 24-year-old is in his third NFL season after being signed by the Vikings as an undrafted free agent in 2021. The Memphis product has appeared in 37 career games with both the Lions (2021 and 2023) and Jaguars (2022), nailing 58 of 66 field goal attempts and all but three of his 90 PATs. 

Prior to being waived by the Lions just six days prior after missing two PATs over the final three games in the Motor City he had appeared in 13 games, converting 15 of 17 field goal attempts.

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Riley spent the entire 2022 season with the Jaguars making 30-of-35 field goals and all but one extra point. He was released by Jacksonville back in May before rejoining Detroit.

Hopkins suffered the hamstring injury chasing after Dameon Pierce on a rare kickoff return touchdown early in the second quarter on Sunday. At the time, the score got the Texans on the scoreboard for the first time in a game.

Hopkins never returned in what wound up being a runaway win for the Browns, 36-22. Cleveland's kicker is leading the league in field goals made and ranks second in total points score this season. He's currently the leading Pro Bowl vote getter for kickers in the AFC.