Browns lose practice squad player to Rams

The Cleveland Browns have gotten great production from kicker Dustin Hopkins this year. “Great” might be an understatement, especially given the 2025 seventh-round selection given up to acquire him.

Replacing the inconsistent Cade York with Hopkins, who won Special Teams Player of the Week in Week 6 and set an NFL record in Week 7, has made a huge impact on the Browns season so far. With the consistency at kicker, Cleveland is 4-2 and currently the sixth seed in the AFC playoffs.

With the success of the Browns special teams, the Los Angeles Rams have come calling by signing kicker Lucas Havrisik off Cleveland’s practice squad:

Given the importance of having a kicker available in case something happens with Hopkins, GM Andrew Berry will likely have to bring in another kicker quickly. Perhaps Brett Maher, released to make room for Havrisik, fills that spot.

There are a number of veteran kickers on the free agent market now, headlined by Robbie Gould, but those with experience are more likely to wait for a starting position to become available than to sign with a practice squad.

We will keep you up to date as roster change information becomes available