After missing both field goal attempts in the Browns' Week 14 loss to the Steelers, K Dustin Hopkins did not know whether he would get the opportunity to play the following week against the Chiefs.
Hopkins has missed nine of his 25 field goal attempts and four of his eight attempts from 50 or more yards this season. Ahead of the Browns' Week 15 matchup against the Chiefs, he said he was told he would sit out in favor of K Riley Patterson.
"Before I even knew if I was playing or not, I was determined to turn it into a positive," Hopkins said. "If I played, great, another opportunity to try to do my best. And if not, I was going to use the week to try to mentally prepare for this week. And I do feel like it was a nice little transition just to reset."
Hopkins has made 64 percent of his field goal attempts this season and has missed two extra points. His previous season-low field goal percentage came in 2020 with the Commanders, in which he connected on 79.4 percent of field goal attempts.
Last season with the Browns, Hopkins posted a career-high 91.7 field goal percentage. With 123 total points in 2023, Hopkins scored the second-most points in team history behind Jim Brown's 126 points in 1965. He also set an NFL record for five consecutive games where he made a field goal of at least 50 yards.
As he reckons with the dip in production this season, the 11-year veteran said that the problem with his kicks this season has not been mental, but instead a result of a correction he needed to make in his kicking motion. Over the past two weeks, he's studied film and worked to fix the issue.
Assistant head coach and special teams coordinator Bubba Ventrone noted the number of factors that go into a kick, such as the weather, field surface and snap, among others. Together with Hopkins, the two worked to identify what was going wrong with Hopkins' field goal attempts this season.
"I knew what was going wrong, but it was a matter of like, okay, how do you fix that now with a swing that is fluid and that you don't have to think about too drastically?" Hopkins said. "You don't want to change too much in-season either. So, I feel like I got a good handle on it."
Check out photos of the team working to prepare for their game this week against the Cincinnati Bengals at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus
Safety Grant Delpit (9) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Cornerback Myles Harden (26) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Tight end Jordan Akins (88) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Offensive Assistant/Run Game Specialist Nick Charlton during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Cornerback Cameron Mitchell (29) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Punter Corey Bojorquez (13) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Safety Rodney McLeod Jr. (12) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo (54) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Running back Jerome Ford (34) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Wide receiver Jamari Thrash (80) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Wide receiver Jamari Thrash (80) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Safeties Coach Ephraim Banda during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Cornerback Cameron Mitchell (29) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (17) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Offensive tackle Julian Pearl (60) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Defensive end Sam Kamara (92) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Defensive end Cameron Thomas (99) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Cornerback Chigozie Anusiem (35) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Defensive end James Houston (96) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Running back Pierre Strong Jr. (20) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Linebacker Nathaniel Watson (40) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Linebacker Winston Reid (59) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Defensive end Elerson G. Smith (52) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Wide receiver Cedric Tillman (19) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Defensive tackle Mike Hall Jr. (51) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Safety Juan Thornhill (1) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Tight end Blake Whiteheart (86) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Tight end Tre' McKitty (87) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Long snapper Rex Sunahara (50) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Linebacker Devin Bush (30) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Safety Juan Thornhill (1) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Running back Jacob Kibodi (36) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (17) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Wide receiver Jaelen Gill (83) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Defensive tackle Jowon Briggs (97) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Quarterback Jameis Winston (5) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Wide receiver Elijah Moore (8) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Cornerback Kahlef Hailassie (25) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Running back Jacob Kibodi (36) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Quarterback Bailey Zappe (2) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Linebacker Winston Reid (59) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Running back Jacob Kibodi (36) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Safety Trey Dean (28) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Defensive tackle T.Y. McGill (63) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Wide receiver Elijah Moore (8) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Head Coach Kevin Stefanski during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Wide receiver James Proche II (11) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Defensive tackle T.Y. McGill (63) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Punter Corey Bojorquez (13) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Defensive tackle Mike Hall Jr. (51) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Cornerback Cameron Mitchell (29) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Tight end Brenden Bates (82) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Tight end Brenden Bates (82) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Wide receiver Michael Woods II (81) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo (54) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Safety Trey Dean (28) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Wide receiver James Proche II (11) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Safeties Coach Ephraim Banda during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Wide receiver Elijah Moore (8) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Quarterback Bailey Zappe (2) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Running back D'Onta Foreman (27) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (17) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Wide receiver Cedric Tillman (19) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Running back Jerome Ford (34) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Quarterback Jameis Winston (5) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Bill Willis Diversity Fellow Nemo Washington during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (17) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Wide receiver Jaelen Gill (83) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Offensive tackle Lorenzo Thompson (69) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (17) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Tight end Tre' McKitty (87) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Coaching Consultant Mike Vrabel during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Wide receiver Kaden Davis (89) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Safety D'Anthony Bell (37) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Quarterback Jameis Winston (5) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Defensive end Elerson G. Smith (52) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Cornerback Mike Ford Jr. (31) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Defensive end Marcus Haynes (98) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Offensive Assistant/Quarterbacks Coach Ashton Grant during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Cornerback Myles Harden (26) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Tight end Brenden Bates (82) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Assistant Wide Receivers Coach Callie Brownson during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Tight end Brenden Bates (82) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Safety Ronnie Hickman Jr. (33) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Running back Pierre Strong Jr. (20) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Pass Game Specialist/Tight Ends Coach Tommy Rees during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Running back Jacob Kibodi (36) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Pass Game Coordinator/Wide Receivers Coach Chad O'Shea during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Offensive Coordinator Ken Dorsey during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Wide receiver Jaelen Gill (83) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Kicker Dustin Hopkins (7) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Defensive Quality Control Coach Jeff Anderson and Cornerbacks Coach Brandon Lynch during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Defensive end Isaiah McGuire (57) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Defensive Coordinator Jim Schwartz during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (17) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
When head coach Kevin Stefanski told Hopkins that he would not kick against the Chiefs, Hopkins was in support of the decision.
Life was different for Hopkins on game day, as he supported his teammates – including Patterson – and even offered to get them water if they needed it. As the crowd noise started to boil up throughout the game, Hopkins said he took mental reps as he stood on the sideline.
Patterson was claimed by the Falcons from the Browns practice squad on Dec. 18. Hopkins is now the only kicker on the Browns roster and will play in Week 16 against the Bengals, according to Stefanski. His coaches feel confident in the kicker's ability to correct the problems that have set him back this season and build some momentum over the remaining three games.
"He hit the ball well in practice. Out of all the kicks we had, he made them all. So, I think it was a good week for him to reset," Ventrone said. "I think the coaches did a good job and had a plan obviously for him to give him some rest and just take a step away and refocus and try and finish the season strong."
The support of Ventrone, Stefanski and the rest of the Browns organization has meant a great deal to Hopkins throughout the season.
Hopkins recognized the fact that a lot of kickers in his situation might not get the patience that he's received from the coaching staff. He was grateful for the communication he had with Stefanski and Ventrone throughout the decision to rest him in Week 15.
"I do feel supported," Hopkins said. "If I was a consultant 10 years from now and I was telling the coaching staff and an organization how to handle guys, I would probably do everything they've done. So, in that regard, I just very much trust them, I'm appreciative of them and I'm just thankful that I'm here."
