In a move to address their kicking situation, the Cleveland Browns have signed kicker Riley Patterson to their practice squad. This comes after starting kicker Dustin Hopkins suffered a hamstring injury during Sunday's victory over the Houston Texans.

Patterson, who was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Minnesota Vikings in 2021, has made his rounds in the NFL, spending time with teams such as Minnesota, New England, Detroit, Jacksonville, and, most recently, Detroit again. However, he was released by the Lions on December 19 after making 15 of 17 field goals in 13 games. It was his pair of missed extra points that ultimately led to his departure from the NFC North champions.

With Hopkins sidelined, the Browns were forced to go for two-point conversions after every touchdown, and also attempted six fourth-down conversions. Kickoff duties were initially handled by punter Corey Bojorquez, and later by safety D'Anthony Bell.

The timing of Patterson's signing coincides with the Browns' upcoming Thursday night matchup against the New York Jets, marking the final Thursday game of the year. As the Browns look to secure their playoff spot, they will rely on Patterson's strong leg and accuracy to bolster their special teams unit.

It remains to be seen if Patterson will be promoted to the active roster for Thursday's game or if he will remain on the practice squad. Nonetheless, the acquisition of Patterson provides the Browns with a viable kicking option in the absence of Hopkins and showcases their dedication to finding solutions to overcome adversity during this crucial point in the season.