Browns have found another problem, just for kicks

When this season started, the Browns had a number of questions about their roster. One had to worry about the quarterback, the offensive line and certain spots on the defense. All of those concerns proved valid. When your football team is 3-10, there's not much that has gone right. But one thing I must confess I wasn't concerned about – at all – was the kicker. Dustin Hopkins came to the Browns in a trade with the Chargers just before last season. In his first year with the Browns, Hopkins was consistent and unflappable. He hammered through last-second game-winning kicks against Pittsburgh and Baltimore. He was 33 of 36 on field goals overall. Perhaps most impressively, Hopkins was 8 of 8 on kicks of 50 yards or more. He was a big reason why the Browns made the playoffs, even though he suffered an injury in the third-to-last game of the season and was out after that. Still, 2023's performance, along with other solid years in a near decade-long career, gave me no reason to worry about the Browns kicker. The organization apparently agreed, signing him to a relatively expensive three year extension in the offseason. But this year, Hopkins' performance has fallen off. As in, it has fallen off a cliff. In 2024, Hopkins has made just 64% (16 of 25) of his field goal attempts. That's the lowest percentage in the league. He's also missed two extra points, converted just 4 of 8 field goals over 50 yards, and has generally failed to find any consistency. That was the case Sunday, in the Browns 27-14 loss at Pittsburgh. Hopkins missed both his field goal attempts; neither were especially long. I can't honestly say the Browns lost the game because of their kicker – the team had too many penalties, too many missed throws and turned the ball over three times – but his performance certainly sealed the deal. A number of people have called for Hopkins to be cut, and if the Browns were having a better season, I'd be one of them. But the fact is, the Browns have been so horrible this year that cutting Hopkins doesn't seem to make a whole lot of sense. For one thing, kickers have been mediocre all over the league in 2024. What are the odds an out-of-work player is going to come in and be much better? The Browns are 3-10. There's very little reason to make a change now. The Browns should focus on what we're all focused on. Hoping this season is just a horrible, horrible dream from which we will soon awake. But also, Hopkins does have a track record. Hopefully he can find himself in the offseason and get back to the player he was in 2023. Actually, lets hope that for a lot of Browns. PLAYER OF THE GAME: Defensive end Isaiah McGuire. The second-year player from Missouri had three tackles and forced a fumble against the Steelers. Briefly, that turnover gave the Browns hope, before Jameis Winston threw his second interception. NEXT WEEK: The defending Super Bowl champion Chiefs come to town. Kansas City has the stars (Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce), the hall of fame coach (Andy Reid) and even a former Browns star (Kareem Hunt) to go with a 12-1 record. But oddly, the Chiefs haven't been blowing anyone out. Ten of their wins have been by seven points or less. Can the Browns keep it close? May need to make field goals for that to happen. MY PICK: Chiefs 34, Browns 17. Zach Baker is the sports editor at The Courier and Review Times.