Cleveland signs Andre Szmyt as Dustin Hopkins’ season of discontent rolls along.
The Cleveland Browns thought they had their placekicking situation resolved after veteran Dustin Hopkins posted a solid season in 2023.
Unfortunately in a season that continues to go from bad to worse, Hopkins joined the 2024 trend of struggling kickers as he has converted on just 16-of-25 field goal attempts, including a current streak that has seen him miss eight of his last 17 attempts.
Not even a week off for a mental health break helped as Hopkins missed the only kick he attempted last week against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Never one to sit by idly when there are moves to be made, general manager Andrew Berry signed kicker Andre Szmyt to the practice squad on Tuesday.
#Browns have signed Lou Groza award winner, Syracuse and St.Louis Battlehawks kicker Andre Szmyt to their practice squad.
On the heels of the smashing success from Brandon Aubrey, Jake Bates and Parker Romo. Spring Pro Football specialists will continue to get opportunities in…
— Mike Mitchell (@ByMikeMitchell) December 24, 2024
Originally signed by the Chicago Bears as an undrafted free agent in 2023, Szmyt did not make Chicago’s roster and has yet to kick in an NFL game. He did play this past spring with the St. Louis Battlehawks of the United Football League where he converted on 19-of-21 field goal attempts with a long of 61 yards.
GOOD FROM 61 YARDS
Andre Szmyt with a BOOT
UFL Kickers are just unreal pic.twitter.com/HlyYwsPxGB
— United Football League (@TheUFL) May 11, 2024
Szmyt received the 2018 Lou Groza Award, given to college football’s best kickers, as a redshirt freshman at Syracuse, and was a semifinalist for the award in 2022.
He finished his collegiate career as Syracuse’s all-time points leader by converting 82 percent of his field goals (85-of-105) and 98 percent of his extra points (199-of-203), and surpassed 100 points in a season twice.
To make room for Szmyt, the Browns released defensive tackle T.Y. McGill from the practice squad.