A dependable leg is a necessity

In the Cleveland Browns’ 36-22 beatdown of the Houston Texans, the Browns scored on their first and fourth possessions to build a 14-0 lead. On the ensuing kickoff which kicker Dustin Hopkins laid on the two-yard line, KR Dameon Pierce took it up the middle, turned slightly right, and then turned the afterburners on en route to a 98-yard touchdown to close the gap to 14-7.

The jog right was because kicker Dustin Hopkins had squared up for the tackle. But Pierce had great speed and it was a foot race. As Hopkins, a former high school cornerback with tackling skills, was about to leap for the tackle, he was seen collapsing on the sideline instead. In his flat-out sprint, he pulled a hamstring with 12:08 left to go in the second quarter.

And yes, this was a result of Hopkins going from a stationary position to sprinting as fast as he was able to.

A hamstring strain generally occurs as a result of muscle overload, such as when you are running and your leg is fully stretched out just before your foot strikes the ground. When your foot strikes the ground and all your weight is on it, the muscles can get stretched too far and they may start to tear.

The result was that Cleveland was without a kicker for the remainder of the contest. Hopkins was ruled out despite attempting to kick on the sidelines. If you have ever pulled a hamstring, you have a problem walking much less doing anything strenuous.

Every ice hockey team has a backup goal tender plus a third guy who played some in high school. Seems the Browns did not have a replacement for Hopkins in the event something did indeed happen. Even the punter Corey Bojorquez in college at New Mexico had zero attempts in field goals, PATs, and kickoffs.

Usually, there is somebody who played soccer while in high school who could kick short distances. Apparently not. This forced Cleveland to go for two-point conversions after each touchdown, but worse, several drives stalled within the Texans’ 30-yard line which would then become an automatic field goal unit play. Instead, the Browns had to go for every fourth down.

After the injury, Hopkins was seen in the medical tent twice but never was escorted back to the locker room. By halftime, he was ruled out.

Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski told CBS sideline reporter Evan Washburn that the Browns did not have a backup field goal kicker on the roster.