The Cleveland Browns suffered a 21-point loss to the New Orleans Saints in Week 11, highlighting larger team issues beyond just kicking. However, Dustin Hopkins’ performance this season remains a major concern. Coming into Sunday’s game, Hopkins had successfully made 14 of 18 field goals and 10 of 12 extra points, a significant decline from last season, when he missed only three field goals on 36 attempts.
Things worsened on Sunday when Hopkins missed a 51-yard field goal and then a 27-yard chip shot late in the first half. Head coach Kevin Stefanski criticized Hopkins after the game, stating that he needed to make those kicks. Hopkins acknowledged his struggles, taking full responsibility for his misses, according to Chris Easterling of the Akron Beacon Journal.
This situation is particularly disappointing given that the Browns extended Hopkins’ contract for three years, worth $15.9 million, before the season. At 34 years old, Hopkins is currently one of the NFL’s worst kickers, with a 70% field goal success rate, the lowest among all current starting kickers.
While it’s commendable that Hopkins has owned up to his poor performance, he must improve quickly in the coming weeks. If not, his future with the Browns could be in jeopardy, and the team may need to explore other kicking options.
