Browns sign K Riley Patterson to practice squad as insurance due to Dustin Hopkins injury

BEREA — The Browns are bringing in reinforcements due to Dustin Hopkins' hamstring injury.

Riley Patterson, who kicked earlier this season for the Detroit Lions, has been signed to the Browns practice squad Monday. He could be elevated to the gameday roster for Thursday night's home game against the New York Jets, depending on the status of Hopkins.

Hopkins sustained a hamstring injury while trying to make a tackle on Dameon Pierce's 98-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in Sunday's 36-22 win at the Houston Texans. The Browns did not try a PAT or field goal after the injury, with both punter Corey Bojorquez and safety D'Anthony Bell handling kickoffs after Hopkins left.

Patterson kicked for the Lions over their first 13 games this season, his second stint with the team in three seasons. He was 15 of 17 on field goals and 35 of 37 on point-after kicks with Detroit before being replaced by Michael Badgley in Week 15.

The Lions waived Patterson on Dec. 19.

The 24-year-old University of Memphis product is 58 of 66 on field goals and 87 of 90 on PATs in 37 career regular-season games. He was with Detroit for seven games in 2021 and 13 this season, while he was Jacksonville's kicker all of the 2022 season, including the playoffs.

Patterson was 3 of 3 on field goals and 4 of 4 on PATs in two playoff games for the Jaguars last season. He was 28 of 31 on field goals and 51 of 53 on PATs in the regular season for Jacksonville.

Punter Corey Bojorquez dealing with left quad injury

The Browns did not practice on Monday, but did hold meetings. They will have media availability on Tuesday, their only such availability prior to the game against the Jets.

Despite not having practice, the Browns still had to put out an injury report Monday due to Thursday's game. Among the notable names on the report was Bojorquez, who did not handle the Browns' final kickoff with 12:31 remaining in Sunday's game.

Bojorquez was listed with a left quad injury on the report. He was one of six players who the team estimated would not have practiced due to injury had the team actually practiced.

The other players were Hopkins (hamstring), running back Kareem Hunt (groin), quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (hip), linebacker Anthony Walker Jr. (knee) and defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo (pec). Both receiver Amari Cooper and David Njoku would've received rest days.

Cleveland, 10-5 on the season, can clinch an AFC playoff spot with a win over New York.

Chris Easterling can be reached at ceasterling@thebeaconjournal.com. Read more about the Browns at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/browns. Follow him on Twitter at @ceasterlingABJ

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Browns sign ex-Lions, Jaguars kicker Riley Patterson to practice squad