Tag: Riley Patterson

Browns provide clarity at kicker after Dustin Hopkins’ tough stretch

Expect Dustin Hopkins to be a healthy scratch tomorrow.

The Cleveland Browns find themselves in a pickle with kicker Dustin Hopkins but may have worked out a temporary solution with just one month left in their disappointing 2024 campaign.

Despite receiving a new contract extension this offseason, Hopkins has regressed into the worst kicker in the NFL this season. After missing five of his last seven kicks in the last four weeks, the Browns decided to sign Riley Patterson to the practice squad and elevate him for their Week 15 matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Patterson joined the Browns down the stretch last season too when Hopkins went down with a hamstring injury.

The Browns would not elevate Patterson without another intention in mind. Cutting Hopkins, given his contract constraints, is not an option. However, making him a healthy scratch over the last four games before finding a way to dump his salary in the offseason is.

With the elevation of Patterson, look for Hopkins to be among the players the Browns list as inactive when they take on the Chiefs at Huntington Bank Field on Sunday. Expect Patterson to kick.

The Jets have picked who their new kicker will be

The Jets have picked who their new kicker will be

The New York Jets announced a flurry of roster moves ahead of facing the Houston Texans in Week 9.

In doing so ahead of their “Thursday Night Football” clash, the Jets (6-2) have selected who will replace Greg Zuerlein as the team’s kicker.

It will be Riley Patterson.

The Jets announced that Patterson has been signed to the 53-man roster from New York’s practice squad.

Earlier this week, Patterson and Spencer Shrader were two kickers that the Jets added to their practice squad amid Zuerlein’s struggles. Zuerlein then ended up being placed on injured reserve.

Now Patterson, 25, has that opportunity to make the job his own.

Prior to ending up on IR, the 36-year-old Zuerlein had missed an NFL high six field goal attempts. The final one came last week during a three-point, 25-22, loss to the New England Patriots. Zuerlein also missed an extra point in that outing.

Patterson has bounced around in his first three NFL seasons. He has played for the Detroit Lions, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Cleveland Browns. Patterson has hit on 59 of his 67 career attempts (88.1 percent).

In addition to signing Petterson, the Jets:

  • Activated TE Kenny Yeboah off of injured reserve and released TE Anthony Firkser.
  • Signed OL Alec Lindstrom to the active roster.
  • Signed DL Takk McKinley to the practice squad.
  • Placed WR Allen Lazard, DL Leki Fotu on injured reserve.

Jets Wire will continue to provide all roster updates throughout the 2024 NFL season.

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Jets sign two kickers to practice squad with Greg Zuerlein struggling

Jets sign two kickers to practice squad with Greg Zuerlein struggling

The New York Jets have finally addressed their kicking problem, and yet, it’s still not clear in terms of where the team will be going from here.

According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the Jets (6-2) have signed not one, but two kickers, ahead of facing the Houston Texans (6-2) in Week 9’s “Thursday Night Football” contest.

But neither has been added to the active roster. New York has signed Riley Patterson and Spencer Shrader to the practice squad following the club’s decision to bring in multiple kickers for tryouts over recent days:

Patterson, 25, has bounced around in his first three NFL seasons. He has played for the Detroit Lions, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Cleveland Browns. Patterson has hit on 59 of his 67 career attempts (88.1 percent).

Shrader, 25, was an undrafted free agent signing of the Indianapolis Colts in April. Shrader only went on to play in Indy’s season opener as he was released once veteran Matt Gay returned to the lineup.

Shrader was three-for-three on extra points in that outing.

At the time of posting, it’s unclear if either of those two new kickers or if Greg Zuerlein will be booting the ball against the Texans. Zuerlein has not been released and is also on the Jets’ injury report this week.

While on the practice squad, Patterson or Shrader could be called up to the active roster to suit up against Houston.

Zuerlein has an NFL high six missed kicks so far this season.

Jets Wire will provide updates as information is made available.

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Giants work out Randy Bullock, three other kickers

The New York Giants hosted four kickers for a workout on Monday, including ex-Giant Randy Bullock.

With Graham Gano out for the next few weeks, the New York Giants are looking for a new placekicker.

On Monday, the team worked out kickers Randy Bullock, Zane Gonzalez, Riley Patterson, and Tanner Brown.

Head coach Brian Daboll said that Jude McAtamney, who spent all summer on the 90-man roster and is now on the team’s practice squad, would also be considered for the job.

“We’ll work guys out and Jude has been with us so we’ll make a decision off of the workout. Based on how they do in the workout and then Jude,” he told reporters on Monday.

Bullock, of course, has had two stints with the Giants in the past. The first one was a single game in 2016 and the second was six games last season.

Brown spent time with the Los Angeles Rams on their practice squad. Gonzalez has kicked for five other NFL teams in his career, which began in 2017.

Patterson has spent time with nine NFL teams and was most recently on the Washington Commanders’ practice squad.

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Could Packers have interest in recently released kicker Riley Patterson?

The Commanders released veteran kicker Riley Patterson. Could the Packers, who are still looking for a kicker to stand out in camp, have interest?

The Washington Commanders executed a trade with the Cleveland Browns for kicker Cade York on Wednesday morning. The resulting roster move was the release of kicker Riley Patterson, a veteran kicker who has struggled throughout training camp in Washington.

Could the Packers, who are having their own kicker issues, be interested?

Patterson, an undrafted kicker out of Memphis, is entering his fourth NFL season after kicking for three different teams — the Detroit Lions, Jacksonville Jaguars and Cleveland Browns — over his first three seasons. Patterson has connected on 59 of 67 field goal attempts, or 88.1 percent, and 93 of 97 extra points, or 95.9 percent. On kicks of at least 40 yards, Patterson is 19 of 25, or 76 percent. He’s 3-of-6 on kicks over 50 yards, with a career long of 53 yards.

Patterson, 24, struggled with the Commanders this summer. Over two preseason games, Patterson connected on just 2-of-5 field goal attempts, missing three between 30 and 49 yards.

The Packers are currently waging a competition between Anders Carlson, the incumbent and 2023 draft pick who struggled to end his rookie season; veteran Greg Joseph, who kicked for the Vikings between 2021-23 but has struggled as of late in training camp; and rookie Alex Hale, a native Australian who was designated as the team’s new international player on Wednesday.

Soon, the Packers will need to make a decision on who will be the kicker for Week 1. Final cuts are next Tuesday. In a league starving for consistent kicking, Patterson could be in demand.

Patterson’s indoor/outdoor splits are worth considering for a team that plays home games at Lambeau Field in Green Bay.

While kicking indoors, Patterson is 29-of-30 on field goals and 47-of-48 on extra points. Almost perfect. Outdoors? Patterson is 30-of-37 on field goals and 46-of-49 on extra points, so the majority of his misses have come outside the kicking comforts of an indoor stadium.

It’s worth noting that Patterson was available when the Packers signed kicker Jack Podlesny in January. The Jaguars signed Patterson on Feb. 6, and the Commanders claimed Patterson off waivers from the Jaguars on July 31.

Do the Packers want to make a move at kicker before final cuts, or will they let the competition play out over the next week — with a joint practice with the Ravens on Thursday and the preseason finale on Saturday — before making a decision? Patterson might not be a substantial upgrade, but he is now available if the Packers want to add to the competition.

Commanders trade draft choice to Browns for kicker Cade York

York is Washington’s third kicker since releasing McManus in June.

Washington Commanders general manager Adam Peters chose not to wait until next week’s final cuts to find a kicker. Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated reported Thursday morning that Washington was sending a conditional seventh-round pick to the Cleveland Browns for kicker Cade York.

York, 23, was a fourth-round pick out of LSU by Cleveland in the 2022 NFL draft. During his time at LSU, York was the true freshman kicker for the Tigers’ undefeated national championship team in 2019 and would make 82% of his field goals in college.

As a rookie in 2022, York made 24 of 32 field goal attempts, including a long of 58 yards. He made 35 of 37 extra-point attempts. In the 2023 preseason, York struggled, and the Browns traded for former Washington kicker Dustin Hopkins. Cleveland waived York during final cuts, and he signed with the Tennessee Titans’ practice squad.

In November, the New York Giants signed York to their active roster. After three weeks, he was waived and re-signed to the practice squad. In December, York suffered a quad injury in practice and was placed on injured reserve. The Giants did not re-sign York after the season.

In March, the Browns brought York back, and he competed with Hopkins throughout the offseason and training camp. However, Cleveland signed Hopkins to a three-year extension just before training camp.

York is Washington’s third kicker since Brandon McManus was in June after sexual assault allegations. First, it was Ramiz Ahmed, who signed in June and was released after the first preseason game. The Commanders claimed Riley Patterson off waivers on July 31, but he struggled throughout camp and missed three of his five field goal attempts in the first two preseason games.

Washington released Patterson after trading for York but has not officially announced the trade.

Commanders sign WR Martavis Bryant, release one of their kickers

The Commanders sign Bryant and move on from one of their kickers.

On Monday, it was revealed that the Washington Commanders were bringing in wide receiver Martavis Bryant for a workout. This was the second time in three months that Washington had hosted Bryant.

On Tuesday morning, the Commanders announced they had signed Bryant. To make room for him, Washington released kicker Ramiz Ahmed.

Bryant, 32, hasn’t played in an NFL game since 2018 with the Raiders. A Pittsburgh Steelers selected Bryant in the second round of the 2014 NFL draft out of Clemson, and he once looked like he was ticketed for stardom. However, multiple suspensions led him away from the NFL.

After over two years out of football, Bryant signed with the CFL’s Toronto Argonauts in 2021. He was placed on the suspended list for failing to report and never played for Toronto. Bryant signed with the Massachusetts Pirates of the Indoor Football League that same year.

In 2022, he signed with the CFL’s Edmonton Elks but was released before training camp. He then signed with the Fan Controlled Football League.

In 2023, Bryant was selected No. 5 overall by the Vegas Vipers in the XFL draft, where he would play in eight games, catching 14 passes for 154 yards. The Vipers released him later so Bryant could sign with the Dallas Cowboys’ practice squad. He did not play in a game for Dallas last season and was signed to a reserve/future contract in January but released in May.

Ahmed signed with the Commanders in June after they released veteran kicker Brandon McManus. He spent the 2023 season with the Green Bay Packers, going back and forth between the main roster and the practice squad.

That leaves Washington with Riley Patterson at kicker. Both have struggled in training camp, but Patterson now has the rest of the preseason to impress Washington and earn the job.

Commanders claim kicker Riley Patterson off waivers

The Commanders claimed 24-year-old Riley Patterson off waivers.

Have the Washington Commanders found themselves a kicker? On Wednesday, the Commanders claimed kicker Riley Patterson off waivers.

The addition of Patterson gives Washington two kickers in training camp, as he joins Ramiz Ahmed in a competition to be the kicker in 2024.

Patterson, 24, was waived by the Jacksonville Jaguars on Monday after signing with them in February. It was Patterson’s second stint in Jacksonville.

After a standout career at Memphis, Patterson signed with the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent in 2021. He was released with an injury settlement that summer. Patterson signed with the New England’s practice squad in October, and in November, the Lions signed him off the Patriots’ practice squad.

Patterson enjoyed some success with the Lions, even winning the NFC Special Teams Player of the Week award once. The Lions waived him during final cuts the following summer.

The Jaguars claimed Patterson off waivers, and he spent the entire 2022 season as their kicker. Patterson made 30 of his 35 field-goal attempts that season and 36 of his 37 point-after attempts. Jacksonville traded Patterson back to Detroit after it signed Brandon McManus, coincidentally enough.

If you recall, the Commanders signed McManus in March but released him this summer due to sexual assault allegations.

The Lions waived Patterson in December 2023 and he was claimed by the Cleveland Browns for the remainder of last season.

For his career, Patterson has kicked in 39 games, making 59 of 67 attempts (88.1%) and 93 of 97 PATs (95.9%). He has made three of his six field goals from 50 yards or more and has a 47% touchback rate.

Patterson is young, and kickers don’t often stick until they’ve bounced around a bit. That’s certainly what the Commanders are hoping. Ahmed has been shaky through the first week of training camp.

Commanders claim former Jaguars K Riley Patterson

Commanders claim former Jaguars K Riley Patterson

Washington claimed former Jacksonville kicker Riley Patterson on Wednesday, the Commanders announced.

The Jaguars waived Patterson on Monday.

Patterson spent the 2022 campaign and this offseason with Jacksonville, first joining the Jaguars a week before the season and starting 19 games for the club, including the postseason.

He memorably hit a game-winning, 36-yard field goal in Jacksonville’s AFC Wild Card victory over Los Angeles in January 2023, capping off the third-biggest comeback in NFL playoff history.

Factoring in the postseason, Patterson connected on 33-of-38 field goal attempts and 40-of-41 extra-point tries with Jacksonville two seasons ago.

Patterson rejoined the Jaguars on a futures contract this offseason after starting the 2023 season with Detroit and ending it with Cleveland.

In 15 combined appearances with the Lions and Browns last year, Patterson converted 16-of-18 field goals but missed three of 44 extra-point attempts.

But Patterson faced intense competition for Jacksonville’s starting kicker role this summer, going against Jaguars’ sixth-round draft pick Cam Little. Now the only kicker on the team’s roster, Little has effectively won the job.

“Cam’s done great. He’s been really, really good,” Jaguars special teams coordinator Heath Farwell described Little on Saturday. “He’s so consistent, he’s locked in, he’s competitive and he’s everything I thought when I went and worked him out, when I met with him.

“All those great interactions I had pre-draft, he’s exactly what I thought, if not better. He’s talented, he’s doing it, he’s been consistent, he’s shown the leg strength, he’s done all those things.”

Little went 53-of-64 (82.8%) on field goal attempts with a 56-yard long in three seasons starting for Arkansas in college.

Former Lions kicker back on the market

Former Lions kicker Riley Patterson released by the Jaguars just days after Detroit lost K Michael Badgley

The Detroit Lions are looking to add a fresh competitor into the placekicking mix in training camp after Michael Badgley was lost for the season. Even with Badgley going on I.R. late last week and after reportedly working out four free agent options, the Lions still have only unproven UFL standout Jake Bates on the roster at kicker.

Now, a former Lions kicker is back on the market and could intrigue special teams coordinator Dave Fipp and the team. Riley Patterson, who was Detroit’s regular kicker for 13 games last season and six other games back in 2021, is now a free agent.

The Jacksonville Jaguars released Patterson on Monday. The 24-year-old converted 15-of-17 field goal attempts for the Lions last year, with a long of 52 yards. He was released midseason in favor of Badgley after missing two extra points in three games, as well as his limited field goal range; Patterson tops out at 53 yards and struggled all last summer to successfully make any kick beyond 47 yards.

The Lions have experience with Patterson and a stated desire to add a kicker to challenge Bates. A reuniting would make some sense, though Patterson’s shortcomings as a kicker are already known and could dissuade Detroit from making that happen, too.