In the Cleveland Browns’ 36–22 loss to the Houston Texans, the Browns scored on their first and fourth possessions to take a 14–0 lead. On the ensuing kickoff that kicker Dustin Hopkins placed at the two-yard line, KR Dameon Pierce took the ball over the middle, turned slightly right and then turned on the afterburners en route to a 98-yard touchdown run to bridge the gap with 14 yards. 7.
The run to the right occurred because kicker Dustin Hopkins lined up for the tackle. But Pierce had great speed and was a foot racer. When Hopkins, a former high school cornerback with tackling skills, was about to jump for the tackle, he was instead seen collapsing on the sideline. In his full sprint, he strained a hamstring with 12:08 left in the second quarter.And yes, this was the result of Hopkins going from a stationary position to a sprint as quickly as possible. A hamstring strain usually occurs due to muscle overload, such as when you run and your leg is fully extended just before your foot hits the ground. When the foot hits the ground and all the weight is on it, the muscles can overstretch and tear. The result was that Cleveland was without a kicker for the remainder of the game. Hopkins was ejected despite a sideline kick attempt. If you’ve ever suffered from a tight hamstring, you’ll have trouble walking, let alone doing strenuous activities.Each hockey team has a backup goalie and a third man, who played some in high school. Looks like the Browns didn’t have a replacement for Hopkins in case something actually happened. Even punter Corey Bojorquez, a student at the University of New Mexico, had zero field goal, PAT and kickoff attempts. There is usually someone who played football in high school and could run short distances. Apparently not. This forced Cleveland to make two-point conversions after every touchdown, but worse, several drives remained inside the Texans’ 30-yard line, which would later become an automatic field goal play. Instead, the Browns had to attempt every fourth down. After the injury, Hopkins was seen twice in the medical tent but was never taken back to the locker room. He was left out at half-time.Browns coach Kevin Stefanski told CBS reporter Evan Washburn that the Browns did not have a backup kicker on the roster. Hopkins has had a banner year and is the AFC’s leading kicker for the Pro Bowl voting process. He entered the Houston game as one of the league’s best kickers with 33 of 36 field goal attempts, including 8-8 on 50+ field goals. On Monday, Hopkins will undergo an MRI to determine the severity of the pain. If Hopkins is unable to play next week or is out for an extended period of time, Cleveland will need a stout kicker on the roster. And now. When kickers are needed, they are traditionally called up on Sunday and flown to team facilities for a tryout on Monday.If Hopkins’ injury isn’t serious, Cleveland will have dodged a bullet. But even if Hopkins is cleared to play, the Browns would at least have to sign a kicker to their practice squad. And with a hamstring issue, they could potentially bring in two kickers if there’s a chance his hamstring resurfaces.Think about the game day situation against the Texans in a playoff situation. No kicker, having to try two for every touchdown, no ability to score points on field goals, and no ability to get the ball out of the end zone for zero running backs.What would happen? Once is the answer. And it’s not like there are a lot of them. Veteran Mason Crosby was released and signed to the New York Football Giants’ practice squad on December 22 after Randy Bullock and Cade York were added to IR. Then Crosby was brought up.Cleveland needs to sign another kicker. Here are three to consider:
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