Andre

Szmyt

He popped up on the injury report for the first time this week and will undergo an MRI per head coach Kevin Stefanski. It’s possible the Browns replace Szmyt ahead of kickoff if the injury is serious. Please do not start either Browns kicker against the Packers defense.

Hopkins was vying for the kicking job with Andre Szmyt, and it appears Szmyt has won that battle. Hopkins could get a tryout with another club, but it’s also possible he’s kicked his last field goal.

The team signed K Andre Szmyt in a corresponding move. Okoronkwo was reportedly available via trade ahead of the draft but nothing came of it. He played a pass-rush specialist role in Cleveland last year and tallied three sacks. He should be able to find a similar gig before training camp, but a starting role is likely out of the picture.

With Dustin Hopkins struggling mightily, the Browns could turn to Szmyt as early as Week 17 against the Dophins. Hopkins, who missed an extra point last week in a loss to the Bengals, has made just 16 of his 25 field goal attempts in 2024. Szmyt would not be a fantasy option in Week 17.

Per ESPN’s Field Yates, the Lions also worked out Lucas Havrisik, Matthew McCrane and Andre Szmyt following Michael Badgley’s season-ending injury. Ammendola (67.0 percent) and Havrisik (75.0 percent) are coming off shaky field-goal conversion rates in 2023. McCrane (80.0 percent) and Szmyt (87.0 percent) fared better in their recent UFL stints, though none of the four inspire confidence. The Lions’ fantasy-friendly kicker role may underwhelm in 2024.

Szmyt is a former walk-on, and was a big reason why the Orange were able to win nine games this year. He went 28-for-32 on his kicks this year -- 57-for-57 on his PATs -- and he was 3-for-3 from 50-plus yards out. LSU’s Cole Tracy and Wyoming’s Cooper Rothe were the other finalists for the award.