JUST IN: Browns insider reveal Browns signed emergency kicker to the practice squad to Replace Injured Dustin Hopkins

The Cleveland Browns must replace outstanding kicker Dustin Hopkins for the final stretch of the regular season, and it appears that choice was made on Christmas Day.

On Monday, December 25, Cleveland signed kicker Riley Patterson to the practice squad, one day after Hopkins suffered a hamstring injury against the Houston Texans.

 

“The Cleveland Browns have signed K Riley Patterson to their practice squad,” according to the team’s official website.

Riley Patterson has been a consistent performer in the NFL, despite the Lions’ recent decision to release him.

Patterson joined the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent in 2021 after graduating from Memphis. He never played for the Purple and Gold that season, although he did join the Detroit Lions later in the season.

During his debut season, the kicker was nearly perfect for the Lions, connecting on 13-of-14 field goals and making all 16 extra point attempts. Patterson spent the whole 2022 season with the Jacksonville Jaguars before returning to the Lions this season.

He made 15-of-17 field goals and 35-of-37 extra point attempts in 13 games for the Lions until being replaced by six-year veteran Michael Badgley two weeks ago.

Patterson missed both of his extra points this season in Detroit’s final three games, one in a 29-22 defeat to the Green Bay Packers on November 23 and the other in a 28-13 loss to the Chicago Bears on December 10.

Patterson is 58-of-66 on field goal attempts and 87-of-90 on extra point attempts in 37 games played across his three-year career, according to Pro Football Reference.

 

Dustin Hopkins of the Cleveland Browns is one of the best kickers in the NFL this season.

Dustin Hopkins of the Cleveland Browns is on the verge of making the Pro Bowl.

Dustin Hopkins of the Cleveland Browns 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 was the Browns’ most recent run of bad luck in 2023.

Cleveland paid the Los Angeles Chargers a 2025 seventh-round selection pick to acquire Hopkins ahead of the season, perhaps unknowing that they had acquired probably the best kicker in the league this year.

Hopkins has four game-winning kicks this season and is a perfect 8-of-8 on field goal tries of 50 yards or more, which is tied for the most in the NFL this season. The kicker also has the most field goal attempts of any distance in the league entering Week 15, connecting on 33-of-36 tries through 14 games. This season, he has made 24 of 26 extra-point attempts.

“[Hopkins has] been one of GM Andrew Berry’s best acquisitions, and the Browns wouldn’t be 9-5 without him,” Cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot wrote on Sunday. “[Hopkins] is two field goals away from breaking Jim Brown’s record of 126 points in a season.” The Browns had to sever ties with [kicker] Cade York, but they certainly never imagined Hopkins would be this good. He was instrumental in saving the season.”

It’s uncertain how long Hopkins will be out, but hamstring problems may last a long time, so he could miss numerous games.