Cleveland Browns kicker Dustin Hopkins wins AFC Special Teams Player of the Week
BEREA — Week 6 has been pretty good for Dustin Hopkins the last couple of years.
In Week 6 last two seasons, Hopkins has managed to kick what turned into a game-winning field goal on either Sunday afternoon or Monday night. That has turned into AFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors the ensuing Wednesday.
On Sunday, Hopkins kicked a 29-yard field goal with 1:40 remaining to provide the Browns with the go-ahead points in a 19-17 win over the previously undefeated San Francisco 49ers. On Wednesday, the NFL announced the 10-year veteran was the AFC's Special Teams Player of the Week.
“You feel the energy,” Hopkins said after the game. “People are excited. But in my mind I’m just going through the same keys of what I need to do to make a kick. I’m not celebrating or thinking about what I’m going to do after the game or anything. I’m just trying to think about what I need to do be to be successful in that moment. And just trying to stay warm and feel good going into it.”
It's the first time Hopkins has won the award since Week 6 of last year, while he was with the Los Angeles Chargers. He won that award for a game-winning 39-yard field goal — which he made while battling a hamstring injury sustained on a missed point-after try earlier in the game — in overtime to beat the Denver Broncos on "Monday Night Football."
On Sunday, Hopkins was 4 of 5 on field goals, with all four coming in the second half. He made a 50-yard kick with 3:21 remaining to pull the Browns with 17-16 of the 49ers.
Hopkins wasn't in the locker room or on the practice field during the portions open to the media.
Hopkins was the NFC Special Teams Player of the Week two times while kicking for the Washington Commanders. He won it in Week 3 in 2016, when he was also Special Teams Player of the Month, and in Week 13 in 2020.
Punter Corey Bojorquez was the last Browns player to take award
Hopkins is the first Browns player to win the award since punter Corey Bojorquez won it in Week 17 of last season for his performance in a win at Washington. Two other Browns players won the award last season: kicker Cade York in Week 1 at Carolina and punt returner Donovan Peoples-Jones in Week 13 at Houston.
York's struggles in the preseason this year are what led the Browns to trade a 2025 seventh-round pick to the Chargers to get Hopkins. Since coming to Cleveland, the Texas native has been virtually automatic, going 12 of 14 on field goals and making all five of his PATs.
“It’s always tough when you go across the country and meet a new team," Hopkins said in the postgame locker room. "But at the same time, everybody in this building has been awesome just how welcoming they’ve been as an organization. Even today, I missed the first field goal attempt of the day, but not one guy — you can sense that sometimes, guys will stay away from you or just leave people alone. But people were still encouraging, pat me on the shoulder or whatever it might be and had great attitudes toward me, which I just appreciate."
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It's been Hopkins' performance in home games at Cleveland Browns Stadium — which he said when he was acquired had a "notorious" reputation — and from 50 yards and longer that has been most impressive. The miss from 47 yards in the first half on Sunday was his first miss at home, where he is 10 of 11 on field goals.
Hopkins came into the season a 50% career kicker from 50 yards or longer. He's 4 of 4 this season from that range, is the first Browns kicker to have a 50-plus-yard field goal in four consecutive games.
"The operation really always helps," special teams coordinator Bubba Ventrone said the Thursday before the 49ers game. "That always helps the kicker whenever the operation can be smooth and to his credit, he's done a really good job of finishing on the ball, getting through the kick and he's got plenty of leg strength to hit it from any distance. … Hopefully we don't need to hit 50 yard kicks, but when we have the opportunity to do so, he's going to hit them."
Hopkins' four 50-plus-yard field goals are tied with the Philadelphia Eagles' Jake Elliott for most of those in the league so far this season. The Indianapolis Colts' Matt Gay, who the Browns will see Sunday in Indianapolis, has a league-high five such kicks.
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 kicker Dustin Hopkins wins weekly special teams honor
