Cameron Dicker is Chargers' kicker; Dustin Hopkins is traded to Browns for draft pick
The Chargers traded placekicker Dustin Hopkins to Cleveland for a 2025 seventh-round pick Monday, as they opted to go with Cameron Dicker to start the season.
Dicker had a solid and consistent training camp and preseason coming off an impressive showing as a rookie in 2022.
At 23, Dicker is nine years younger than Hopkins. He also has been healthy during a stretch when Hopkins has dealt with multiple injuries, including one that cost him time in recent weeks.
Dicker made 19 of 20 field goal attempts and all 22 of his extra point tries after joining the Chargers in Week 9 last year. They were forced to turn to Dicker after Hopkins suffered a hamstring injury.
Dicker hit three extra points and field goals of 22, 23 and 50 yards in the Chargers’ AFC wild-card playoff game at Jacksonville. He did miss a 40-yarder midway through the fourth quarter, however, as the Chargers fell 31-30.
Read more: Chargers' 53-man roster: With the preseason over, who will make the cut?
In what turned out to be his final appearance for the team, Hopkins made an extra point and four field goals — including a game-winning 39-yarder in overtime — while injured in Week 6 against Denver.
In parts of two seasons and 16 games with the Chargers, Hopkins made 27 of 30 field goals and 42 of 44 extra points.
“From the day he arrived here, Dustin has been the consummate professional and a teammate anyone would love to have,” general manager Tom Telesco said in a statement. “He’s made some big-time contributions to our organization, both on and off the field.”
In Cleveland, Hopkins will replace Cade York, a 2022 fourth-round pick. The Browns are expected to waive York.
This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
