Insider Says There Is An ‘Uncertainty’ About 1 Browns Player’s Playoff Status
The kicker situation had been a major concern for the Cleveland Browns.
They began the season by cutting ties with the ever-struggling Cade York, trading for veteran K Dustin Hopkins.
Giving up a seventh-round pick for Hopkins has looked like a bargain, and it didn’t take long before he proved why he was one of the most respected veterans in his position.
Unfortunately for him and the team, Jake Trotter of ESPN reports that the team isn’t so sure about his availability for the playoffs because of the hamstring injury he suffered in Week 16.
Hopkins was in the midst of a spectacular year, one of the best in franchise history.
He broke the Browns’ all-time record for the most kicks beyond 50 yards and had already made more kicks for the team than any other player ever, beating team legend Phil Dawson in both of those categories.
Hopkins had been so good that he was on the verge of taking down a long-standing Jim Brown record as well.
The legendary running back scored the most points in a single season in team history (126), and Hopkins was just five points behind him before pulling his hamstring vs. the Houston Texans.
The Browns turned to Riley Patterson as his replacement in Week 17, who made his only field goal attempt of the game and went 4-for-5 in extra point attempts.
Patterson was recently cut by the Detroit Lions and he figures to continue getting the nod for Kevin Stefanski’s team, which continues to pile up key injuries week after week.
