Cleveland Browns coach Kevin Stefanski will stick with under-fire kicker Dustin Hopkins for the Thursday Night Football clash with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Hopkins had a difficult afternoon as the Browns lost 35-14 to the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, missing two field goals in the first half, including one from just 27 yards, as well as pushing another one wide only for the Saints to be flagged for holding.
Dustin Hopkins just missed a 27-yard field goal attempt.. pic.twitter.com/qdnMg8qhCF
— Arye Pulli (@AryePulli) November 17, 2024
“Certainly, we expect him to make those kicks. He expects himself to make those kicks. I’ve seen him make those kicks,” Stefanski said.
“He’s been doing this for a very long time, but it’s still technique and he’s always going to be making sure that he’s sharpening his technique, if you will, and he’ll continue to do that for us.”
Hopkins set a Browns single-season record with 33 made field goals in 2023 but is just 14-of-20 in 2024.
‘I expect better for the city of Cleveland’
After the game on Sunday, he said: “I expect better for my teammates, I expect better for the city of Cleveland.
“It does not feel good being the weak link in a football game, and I was definitely that today. So form-wise, I kind of went into halftime, felt better about where I needed to be, but it was too late.
“Well, it’s funny because – it’s not funny – but there are times when you don’t hit well in practice and then you just make it happen in the game, where this is the first time for several weeks that it’s been the opposite.
“Usually game day is good, but practice-wise, I’m practising better than arguably I’ve ever practised. And in-game, just feels a little different.
“But, yeah, I think hopefully I got my finger on it at halftime, and I can take that into the short week.”
Winston gives Hopkins his backing
Browns quarterback Jameis Winston is confident Hopkins will turn it around.
“I’ve been with Dustin 13 years ago when I was at Florida State and he was the golden boot,” Winston said.
“I’m always going to have tremendous faith in him and I trust you that he’s going to continue to work and get better.
“Yes, it’s tough when all eyes are on you, that’s like the quarterback position, that’s like the leader of the defense. All eyes are on you. So when all eyes are on you, you have to bunker down and show up.”
