Hopkins competed with Cameron Dicker during training camp for the Chargers' starting kicker job but did not come out ahead. However, he lands on his feet in Cleveland, where he could make a Fantasy impact should Deshaun Watson return to being a top-10 quarterback. Hopkins made 90% of his field-goal attempts in 16 games with the Chargers, but he had an 84% success rate over a much larger period of time with Washington prior to that. He could struggle with the unpredictable outdoor conditions in Cleveland and is nothing more than a bye-week fill-in to start the year.
Hopkins converted two of three field-goal attempts and was not needed for extra-point kicks in Monday's 26-22 loss to the Steelers.
Hopkins' makes from 43 and 55 yards bookended a 43-yarder that went wide left. He lined up for an extra-point kick, but Cleveland head coach Kevin Stefanski opted for a two-point conversation after a Pittsburgh penalty. The Browns went for two points following their other touchdown. Hopkins has made five of six FGA and his lone XPA following the team's wild ride with Cade York.
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Browns' Dustin Hopkins: Consistent in opener
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Hopkins converted three of three field-goal attempts and his lone extra-point kick in Sunday's 24-3 win over the Bengals in Week 1.
For one week, the Browns and all those interested in the team's fate could breathe a sigh of relief. After Cade York's uneven finish to 2022 and troubling signs exhibited during the preseason, a team with playoff ambitions brought in Hopkins to stabilize its kicking game. He did so opening week.
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Browns' Dustin Hopkins: Traded to Cleveland
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The Browns traded a 2025 seventh-round draft pick to the Chargers in exchange for Hopkins on Monday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Hopkins had been competing with Cameron Dicker for the Chargers' kicking job, but the 32-year-old now is headed to Cleveland, where he's slated to take over for Cade York, who the Browns plan to cut, per Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer. Hopkins is slated to debut with his new team Sunday, Sept. 10 against the Bengals.
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Chargers' Dustin Hopkins: Back at practice
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Hopkins (undisclosed) returned to practice Thursday, Eric Smith of the Chargers' official site reports.
Hopkins, who had been dealing with an unspecified injury, thus kicked for the first time since the second day of camp (July 27). Now that Hopkins is back on the field, the 32-year-old is slated to compete with Cameron Dicker for the Chargers' Week 1 placekicking assignment. The two are listed as co-starters on the team's posted unofficial depth chart, but considering that Dicker has made 58 of 64 kicks (90.6 percent) of his attempts during camp thus far, Hopkins will need to look sharp going forward in order to make his case to claim a roster spot.
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Chargers' Dustin Hopkins: Dealing with injury
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Hopkins (undisclosed) did not practice Wednesday, Daniel Popper of The Athletic reports.
Hopkins also didn't practice Sunday, and it's unclear if he took the field anytime between then and now. The 32-year-old is currently in competition with Cameron Dicker for the team's kicking duties, so any continued missed time could be detrimental to his chances.
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Chargers' Dustin Hopkins: Doesn't participate in scrimmage
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Hopkins didn't participate in Sunday's scrimmage due to an undisclosed injury, Jeff Miller of the Los Angeles Times reports.
Although it's unclear what health concern Hopkins is dealing with, he's battling a physical issue that has prevented him from kicking over the past week, Daniel Popper of The Athletic reports. He's competing with Cameron Dicker for the Chargers' kicking job, and a timetable for Hopkins' return remains to be seen.
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Chargers' Dustin Hopkins: In line to compete for kicking job
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Hopkins (hamstring) is expected to compete with Cameron Dicker for the Chargers' kicking job in 2023, Daniel Popper
of The Athletic reports.
A hamstring injury limited Hopkins to five games in 2022, which paved the way for Dicker to close out the season as the team's placekicker. Dicker -- who the Chargers have extended a 2023 contract tender to -- made 19 of his 20 field-goal attempts in a Los Angeles uniform while connecting on all 22 of his extra-point tries. Prior to his injury, Hopkins had hit nine of his 10 field-goal attempts and made all 12 of his extra-point tries. With that in mind, as long as both kickers remain under contract and Hopkins is past his hamstring woes, an offseason job competition looms.
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Chargers' Dustin Hopkins: Suffers setback
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Chargers head coach Brandon Staley said Wednesday that Hopkins (hamstring) suffered a setback in his recovery, Daniel Popper of The Athletic reports.
As a result of the setback, Hopkins was placed on injured reserve Tuesday, prompting the Chargers to sign Cameron Dicker to their active roster to replace him as the team's kicker. Hopkins has missed five of the team's last six contests due to a hamstring strain and will now be sidelined for at least four additional contests while on IR.
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Chargers' Dustin Hopkins: Hitting IR
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The Chargers placed Hopkins (hamstring) on injured reserve Tuesday.
Hopkins has missed five of L.A.'s last six games due to a lingering hamstring strain and now will sit out at least four more as he fulfills the terms of his IR stint. While Hopkins remains sidelined, the team will roll with Cameron Dicker as its placekicker after signing him off the practice squad in a corresponding move.
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Chargers' Dustin Hopkins: Unlikely to play Sunday
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Hopkins (hamstring) is considered doubtful to play Sunday against the Chiefs.
Hopkins has been sidelined with a hamstring injury for the Chargers' last three games, and he logged back-to-back DNPs over the first two practices of Week 11. While he did manage to participate in a limited capacity during Friday's session, the 32-year-old still appears set to sit out again Sunday. As a result, expect Cameron Dicker to continue filling in as the Bolts' starting kicker against Kansas City.
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Chargers' Dustin Hopkins: Doesn't practice again Thursday
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Hopkins (hamstring) was listed as a non-participant on the Chargers' injury report Thursday.
Hopkins has now missed each of the Chargers' last three games due to a hamstring injury, and his absence from Thursday's session certainly doesn't help his chances of returning for Sunday's contest against the Chiefs. Cameron Dicker would likely fill in as Los Angeles' kicker in Week 11 should Hopkins eventually be ruled out.
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Chargers' Dustin Hopkins: Sits out practice Wednesday
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Hopkins (hamstring) was listed as a non-participant on the Chargers' injury report Wednesday.
Hopkins is expected to miss at least one more game while dealing with a lingering hamstring injury, so his lack of participation Wednesday comes as no surprise. Over five games this season, the 32-year-old has made all but one of his 10 field-goal attempts while going a perfect 12-for-12 on point-after attempts. Cameron Dicker should continue to fill in for Hopkins against the Chiefs in Week 11.
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Chargers' Dustin Hopkins: Still one week from return
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Coach Brandon Staley relayed Monday that Hopkins (hamstring) is likely another week away from a return to action, Jeff Miller of the Los Angeles Times reports.
Hopkins so far has missed four games due to a strained hamstring, last suiting up in Week 6. Cameron Dicker has filled in for Hopkins the last two contests, and assuming Staley's prediction comes to pass, Dicker will do so again Sunday versus Kansas City.
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Chargers' Dustin Hopkins: Ruled out again
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Hopkins (hamstring) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the 49ers, Daniel Popper of The Athletic reports.
With Hopkins -- who last suited up Week 6 -- still sidelined, Cameron Dicker is slated to be elevated from the practice squad to kick for the Chargers for the second straight game. Hopkins will target a potential return to action Week 11 versus Kansas City.
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Chargers' Dustin Hopkins: Ruled out for Week 9
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Hopkins (hamstring) has been ruled out for Sunday's matchup against the Falcons.
Hopkins will be sidelined for a second consecutive game due to a hamstring injury he suffered during Week 6. The veteran kicker was given a 2-to-4-week return timeline, so it's possible he's back for the Chargers' Week 10 matchup against the 49ers. In his stead, Taylor Bertolet will likely be elevated from the practice squad again.
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Chargers' Dustin Hopkins: Making progress, still week-to-week
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Chargers head coach Brandon Staley said Wednesday that Hopkins (hamstring) is making progress but remains week-to-week, Lindsey Thiry of ESPN.com reports.
Hopkins suffered a hamstring injury during Week 6 and was given a 2-to-4-week return timeline. After sitting out Week 7 and rehabbing during the team's Week 8 bye, the kicker looks like he may be sidelined for an additional contest. If Hopkins remains sidelined for Sunday's matchup against the Falcons, Taylor Bertolet will likely be elevated from the practice squad again.
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Chargers' Dustin Hopkins: Out 2-to-4 weeks, per HC
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Chargers head coach Brandon Staley said Tuesday that Hopkins (hamstring) will be out 2-to-4 weeks, Lindsey Thiry of ESPN.com reports.
Hopkins remained in Monday's game after initially suffering a hamstring injury on his first kick of the contest and ended up connecting on four field goals, including a game-winning 39-yarder in overtime. It's unclear if staying in the game made the hamstring issue worse, but the Chargers may not have come away with a victory without Hopkins' persevering performance. In Hopkins' absence, Los Angeles is expected to promote Taylor Bertolet from its practice squad to serve as the primary kicker against Seattle.
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Chargers' Dustin Hopkins: Expected to sit out Week 7
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Hopkins isn't expected to be available for the Chargers' Week 7 game against the Seahawks after injuring his hamstring in Monday's 19-16 overtime win over the Broncos, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Hopkins initially tweaked his hamstring on an extra-point attempt following Austin Ekeler's second-quarter touchdown, but the kicker soldiered on and came up clutch for the Chargers. He went on to deliver a 37-yard field goal in the final minute of the second quarter, then added 31- and 35-yarders in the second half before drilling a game-winning 39-yard kick with 2:38 remaining in overtime. Fortunately for Hopkins, his injury doesn't seem to be a long-term concern, so he appears likely to avoid a stint on injured reserve. The team will likely promote Taylor Bertolet from the practice squad to serve as its kicker against Seattle.
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Chargers' Dustin Hopkins: PIcks up injury in win
Rotowire
Hopkins (hamstring) said he felt "a pop" in his leg after his first kicking attempt in Monday's 19-16 overtime win against Denver, but he managed to play through the issue for the remainder of the contest, Jeff Howe of The Athletic reports.
Hopkins came into this game without an injury designation after missing last week's win against the Browns with a quadriceps injury, which also limited him in practice last Thursday and Friday. The 31-year-old temporarily exited Monday with a hamstring issue in the second quarter before returning to convert a 37-yard field goal with less than one minute remaining in the first half, according to Daniel Popper of The Athletic. Hopkins also appeared to be in considerable pain on his three remaining field-goal tries, though he still hit a 39-yard game winner in overtime. While the exact nature and severity of this new issue still are unclear, the veteran now will have a slightly shorter week to recover before Sunday's game against the Seahawks.
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Chargers' Dustin Hopkins: Remains limited at practice
Rotowire
Hopkins (quadriceps) was a limited participant in Friday's practice, Jeff Miller of the Los Angeles Times reports.
Hopkins has yet to upgrade to full practice participation since coming out of the Chargers' Week 4 win over the Texans with the right quad injury. He wasn't able to play in last week's win over the Browns, and Hopkins may need to turn in a full practice Saturday for the Chargers to feel comfortable having him handle kicking duties Monday against the Broncos. If Hopkins ends up missing another game, Taylor Bertolet will likely be elevated from the practice squad to fill in at kicker once again.
