With kicker Dustin Hopkins and punter Corey Bojorquez sidelined due to injury, the Browns are addressing those positions by activating two practice squad players to the active roster ahead of their Thursday night showdown with the New York Jets.
The team announced on Thursday afternoon that kicker Riley Patterson and punter Matt Haack were promoted to the active roster to fill those roles. It's the first of three promotions off the practice squad that Cleveland has available for each player.
Patterson, 24, is in his third NFL season after being signed by the Vikings as an undrafted free agent in 2021. The Memphis product has appeared in 37 career games with both the Lions (2021 and 2023) and Jaguars (2022), nailing 58 of 66 field goal attempts and all but three of his 90 PATs.
Prior to being waived by the Lions just six days prior after missing two PATs over the final three games in the Motor City he had appeared in 13 games, converting 15 of 17 field goal attempts.
As for Haack, 29, he's playing in his seventh season in the pros and has appeared in 98 career games with the Dolphins (2017-20), Bills (2021) and Colts (2022). Originally and undrafted free agent of the Dolphins in 2017, Haack last played for Indianapolis last season, where he appeared in all 17 games booting 70 total punts, including 28 inside the 20.
Hopkins suffered the hamstring injury chasing after Dameon Pierce on a rare kickoff return touchdown against the Texans last weekend. He left the game and never returned then didn't practice in the days leading up to tonight's matchup.
Bojorquez filled in for Hopkins as place-kicker once he went down and suffered a quad injury of his own on a kickoff as well. It's unfortunate timing for two key specialists to go down for Cleveland as a win tonight would lock up a playoff berth.
More must-reads: