Browns Rumors: Rookie QBs, Kicker, Jones
While Joe Flacco may be the best available quarterback to start for the Browns offense at the moment, the 40-year-old is clearly not the team’s quarterback of the future. After a 1-3 start to the season, some may be calling to get a look at one of the two rookies Cleveland drafted back in April, but according to Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated, it doesn’t seem like either quarterback could do anything to prevent the team from drafting a first-round passer next year.
It made some sense to start Flacco even if the Browns didn’t have much confidence in their ability to contend for a title. An opening slate of games against the Bengals, Ravens, Packers, Lions, Vikings, and Steelers — all playoff teams from last year after Week 1 — would be a brutal introduction to the NFL for a rookie passer and may do more harm than good for the player’s development. It made sense to have Flacco start a good number of these games and reevaluate.
If Flacco could amass a good record through a daunting opening stretch, the team could stick with him and hope for a potential playoff run with an easier stretch of games later on in the season. If the team was clearly far from contending for a playoff spot, the back portion of the season could be used to see what they have in Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders. One of the two rookies could really spark the offense and prove themselves as the team’s quarterback of the future.
Not according to Breer. While Breer agrees that, at some point, Gabriel and Sanders may find the field later this year, he doesn’t believe that there’s anything the two could do over the next four months to prevent the Browns from taking a quarterback with one of their two first-round picks in 2026. Breer points to the travel schedule of the Browns’ top personnel staffers, who went “to see a few of the top college quarterbacks over Labor Day weekend,” something he expects they’ll continue to do.
Here are a couple other rumors coming out of Cleveland:
- After some early season struggles, some wondered if the Browns had made the right decision going with Andre Szmyt as their kicker, but the team stood behind him. According to Tony Grossi of 850 ESPN Cleveland, the team did reach out to another kicker to “be on hold” when Szmyt suffered a midweek calf injury last week, but Szmyt recovered and won AFC Special Teams Player of the Week after kicking a 55-yard game-winner against the Packers. We had noted a workout with veteran kicker Matthew Wright on the Saturday before the Green Bay game, but whether or not the two reports are related is unknown.
- Chris Easterling of the Akron Beacon Journal reported that left tackle Dawand Jones‘ surgery to repair the LCL tear in his knee and his hamstring aversion was successfully performed last Thursday. James Voo, the team physician who performed the surgery, expects Jones to make a full recovery in time for the 2026 NFL season.
AFC Injury Updates: Stewart, Worthy, Szmyt
Despite missing most of his first offseason because of a contract dispute, Bengals defensive end Shemar Stewart has impressed with his early contributions in the first weeks of the season. Unfortunately, despite his hard work to be ready to contribute early, Stewart could be looking at a multi-week absence, according to what he told Kelsey Conway of The Cincinnati Enquirer.
Per The Enquirer, Stewart is “dealing with a low ankle sprain and could be out a few weeks.” The first-round pick out of Texas A&M was just outpaced by starter Joseph Ossai across from Trey Hendrickson in Week 1, but Week 2 saw Stewart earn his first start and continue to work a strong snap share before getting sidelined with an injury in the fourth quarter. Now Myles Murphy will have to step up for a few games in Stewart’s absence.
While Stewart has been ruled out, cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt is listed as doubtful for this weekend. Taylor-Britt seems to have tweaked a hamstring injury that had held him out for an extended portion of training camp. Cincinnati likely won’t risk anything with something as finicky as a hamstring injury.
Here are a couple other injury updates from across the AFC:
- The Chiefs are desperately hoping to see some reinforcements at wide receiver arrive soon. According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, wide receiver Xavier Worthy has been classified as “50-50” to return this weekend for the team’s trip to New York. Worthy was a limited participant in Thursday and Friday practices last week and has ramped up his workload as he attempts overcome an ailing shoulder. He’s still been limited and listed as questionable this week, but there appears to be some optimism that a return could come soon.
- Per Zac Jackson of The Athletic, Browns kicker Andre Szmyt was sent to get an MRI performed today after he “felt something” during practice. No free agent kickers have been called for workouts or signed to the practice squad, though it only occurred earlier today, so it may just have been precautionary. The team’s efforts to bring in other kicking options tomorrow should tell us what we need to know about Szmyt’s health and availability for the weekend.
Kevin Stefanski: Browns Not Seeking K Addition
The Browns began their season with a 17-16 loss to the Bengals. Dropped passes were a key factor in the game, but so too were missed kicks. 
During his regular season debut, Andre Szmyt connected on one field goal attempt and one extra point. However, he also missed an extra point in the third quarter before what would have been a go-ahead field goal (from 36 yards out) late in the game wound up off target. As is the case with other teams around the league, questions have been raised about competition being brought in for the Browns.
For now, at least, that will not be taking place in Cleveland. Head coach Kevin Stefanski was asked after the game about Szmyt, who enjoyed a strong preseason. He said the 26-year-old is not in danger of being replaced after Sunday’s poor performance.
“I’m not there,” Stefanski said (via Pro Football Talk’s Myles Simmons) when asked about competition being brought in this week. “You know, points are at premium obviously. So that’s frustrating. Andre’s had a really good camp. He’s done a nice job for us. So I’m not there.”
Dustin Hopkins had a stellar debut campaign with the Browns in 2023, connecting on 33 of 36 field goal tries (including all eight attempts from 50 yards and beyond). Last year, however, the veteran struggled from a number of distances, making just 18 of his 27 attempts. Hopkins was replaced for Week 13 in 2024 before ultimately being released as part of Cleveland’s roster cuts following training camp.
That move confirmed Szmyt’s status as Cleveland’s preferred kicking option. The former UDFA certainly did not make the best of first impressions with the Browns, but based on Stefanski’s comments he is not in danger of being replaced early in the campaign.
Deshaun Watson, Dustin Hopkins Not On Browns’ Initial 53-Man Roster
The roster-cutdown deadline is less than an hour away, but some teams have turned in their test answers early. Here are the Browns’ moves to pare their roster to 53 players:
Released:
- K Dustin Hopkins
- WR Diontae Johnson (story)
- DT Sam Kamara
- DE Julian Okwara
- RB Trayveon Williams
Waived:
- WR Chase Cota
- WR Kaden Davis
- S Christopher Edmonds
- CB LaMareon James
- WR Kisean Johnson
- RB Ahmani Marshall
- T Kilian Zierer
Waived/injured:
- WR Cade McDonald
- RB Pierre Strong
Activated from active/PUP list:
- DT Michael Hall
Placed on IR-designated for return:
- LB Winston Reid
Placed on reserve/PUP list:
Placed on reserve/NFI list:
- WR David Bell
This is effectively a procedural move involving Watson, who has long been expected to be sidelined throughout the 2025 season due to two Achilles surgeries. The long-embattled quarterback had resumed throwing early this offseason, but he will not be activated. Long hovering off the Browns’ QB radar — as they conducted a rare four-man competition, one that has since lost Kenny Pickett (via trade) — Watson is not expected to play for the Browns again. Though, the team (via another restructure) still has the high-priced passer tied to a $35.97MM cap number.
Watson and Bell must miss at least four games apiece, while Hall will avoid such a delay. The 2024 second-round pick suffered a season-ending knee injury in December, and while he did not participate in training camp, this activation signals the Browns expect the Ohio State product to be ready at some point in the first four weeks.
A UDFA who started three games as a rookie last season, Reid will count toward Cleveland’s eight in-season injury activations. The Browns stashing the off-ball linebacker on the IR-return list will cut that total down to seven, whether Reid is activated this season or not. Placing Reid on IR now certainly points to activation plans, however.
Many of these players will likely be brought back on practice squad deals, as 16 of those spots are open to non-international players annually. Davis, a rookie UDFA, will be added to the Browns’ P-squad if he clears waivers, cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot notes.
Hopkins, 34, has been the Browns’ kicker for the past two seasons. The team extended him on a three-year, $15.9MM deal in 2024, but the Browns are going with former UDFA Andre Szmyt at kicker. Szmyt kicked a 37-yard game-winning field goal to beat the Rams during the Browns’ preseason slate, making all three of his field goal tries.
Cutting Hopkins — who was just 18-for-27 last season — will bring a $4.91MM dead money charge (spread over two years) for the Browns. A former Syracuse kicker, Szmyt signed with the Browns in June; he has not attempted a regular-season kick yet. Hopkins’ slump led to the Browns making him a healthy scratch in Week 15, and while he returned to duty a week later, Cleveland has found a replacement.
Minor NFL Transactions: 6/26/25
Here are today’s minor moves from around the league:
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: K Andre Szmyt
New England Patriots
- Released: DT Wilfried Pene
Szmyt signed with the Bears as an undrafted rookie in 2023, but did not make the 53-man roster. In 2024, he played for the UFL’s St. Louis Battlehawks, converting 19 of his 21 field goal attempts with a long of 61 yards. Szmyt then joined the Browns’ practice squad at the end of the 2024 season and signed a reserve/futures contracts for 2025. He was waived in early June to make room for wide receiver Jaelen Gill and now finds himself back on the roster after the team’s release of Ogbo Okoronkwo.
Minor NFL Transactions: 6/4/25
Today’s minor moves across the NFL:
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: WR Jaelen Gill
- Waived: K Andre Szmyt
Denver Broncos
- Reverted to IR: TE Cole Fotheringham
Detroit Lions
- Waived (with injury designation): CB Divaad Wilson
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Waived (with failed physical designation): G Cooper Hodges
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: DT Ben Stille
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: WR Ife Adeyi
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: S Quindell Johnson
Seattle Seahawks
- Waived: WR Nate McCollum
Gill becomes the 13th wide receiver on the Browns roster. While that certainly seems like a lot, keep in mind that the Browns need to run drills for four quarterbacks and some receivers aren’t able to participate at the moment. An undrafted receiver out of Fresno State last year, Gill spent the last two months of the season on the Browns’ practice squad.
The Eagles add another undrafted rookie to their group in Adeyi. The speedy, diminutive wideout spent his final two collegiate seasons at Sam Houston State. He had 30 catches for 271 yards and a touchdown, with another score on the ground. He returned punts for the Bearkats in 2024, as well.
NFL Reserve/Futures Deals: 1/6/25
With the regular season having come to an end, many teams have started signing players to reserve/futures contracts. This allows organization to retain (routinely) young, practice squad players. Here are the latest reserve/futures contracts:
Arizona Cardinals
- WR Andre Baccellia, CB Jaden Davis, CB Darren Hall, OL Matthew Jones, WR Tejhaun Palmer, TE Bernhard Seikovits, DL Ben Stille
Atlanta Falcons
- DT Junior Aho, WR Phillip Dorsett, RB Elijah Dotson, WR Dylan Drummond, G Joey Fisher, G Jovaughn Gwyn, DB Lamar Jackson, QB Emory Jones, DE Khalid Kareem, WR Jesse Matthews, DB Benny Sapp III, OT Tyrone Wheatley Jr.
Carolina Panthers
- RB Emani Bailey, G Ja’Tyre Carter, TE Dominique Dafney, LB Kenny Dyson, LB Thomas Incoom, WR T.J. Luther, TE Jordan Matthews, WR Dax Milne, C Andrew Raym, G Brandon Walton
Chicago Bears
- OL Theo Benedet, OL Chris Glaser, WR John Jackson, LB Carl Jones Jr., DL Jamree Kromah, QB Austin Reed, OL Ricky Stromberg, WR Samori Toure, TE Joel Wilson
Cleveland Browns
- G Javion Cohen, S Trey Dean, DE Marcus Haynes, OT Roy Mbaeteka, TE Tre’ McKitty, OT Julian Pearl, DE Elerson Smith, K Andre Szmyt, OT Lorenzo Thompson
Dallas Cowboys
- G Jack Anderson, DB Luq Barcoo, DT Denzel Daxon, WR Kelvin Harmon, LB Brock Mogensen, WR Jalen Moreno-Cropper, DB Troy Pride Jr., LB Luiji Vilain, WR Seth Williams
Indianapolis Colts
- RB Salvon Ahmed, LB Austin Ajiake, LB Liam Anderson, QB Jason Bean, S Marcel Dabo, CB Alex Johnson, G Atonio Mafi, TE Sean McKeon, WR D.J. Montgomery, DE Durell Nchami, TE Albert Okwuegbunam, DT Pheldarius Payne, G Josh Sills, WR Laquon Treadwell
Las Vegas Raiders
- DE David Agoha, OT Gottlieb Ayedze, CB M.J. Devonshire, CB Keenan Isaac, WR Shedrick Jackson, WR Tyreik McAllister, DE Ovie Oghoufo, C Will Putnam, LB Brandon Smith, RB Isaiah Spiller, OT Dalton Wagner, WR Kristian Wilkerson
New York Giants
- K Jude McAtamney, DL Ross Blacklock, C Bryan Hudson, C Jimmy Morrissey, DL Casey Rogers
New York Jets
- OL Zack Bailey, RB Zach Evans, T Obinna Eze, TE Zack Kuntz, G Kohl Levao, QB Adrian Martinez, LB Jackson Sirmon, WR Brandon Smith, DB Tre Swilling, WR Easop Winston
San Francisco 49ers
- DL Jonathan Garvin, OL Sebastian Gutierrez, DL Tarron Jackson, OL Zack Johnson, CB Chase Lucas, S Jaylen Mahoney, QB Tanner Mordecai, OL Drake Nugent, WR Terique Owens, TE Mason Pline, WR Trent Taylor
Seattle Seahawks
- DT Quinton Bohanna, CB Ryan Cooper, LB Michael Dowell, CB Tyler Hall, C Mike Novitsky, DE Kenneth Odumegwu, S Ty Okada, WR Cornell Powell, LB Jamie Sheriff, LB Tyreke Smith, CB Damarion Williams
Tennessee Titans
- DT McTelvin Agim, DT Abdullah Anderson, LB Curtis Bolton, OL Chandler Brewer, DT Isaiah Iton, CB Gabe Jeudy-Lally, OLB Kyron Johnson, WR Stanley Morgan, TE Thomas Odukoya, S Gervarrius Owens, T Isaiah Prince, RB Jabari Small
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/31/24
New Year’s Eve practice squad transactions:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: RB Hassan Hall
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: TE Cameron Latu, RB Aidan Robbins
- Released: K Andre Szmyt
Houston Texans
- Signed: WR Jaxon Janke
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: DE Joe Gaziano
New York Jets
- Signed: T David Sharpe
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: CB Tariq Castro-Fields, S Mekhi Garner, DE Charles Harris
- Released: DE Tarron Jackson, RB Lew Nichols
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: G Zack Johnson
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: LB Michael Dowell, CB Tyler Hall
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: DE Earnest Brown IV, LB Antonio Grier
- Placed on practice squad injured list: OLB Daniel Grzesiak
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: CB Gabe Jeudy-Lally
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/24/24
Tuesday’s taxi squad moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: CB Darren Hall
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: LB Rashaan Evans, DL Kyler Baugh
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed: DT Domenique Davis, LB Craig Young, QB Logan Woodside
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: K Andre Szmyt
Detroit Lions
- Signed: WR Maurice Alexander
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: RB Deshaun Fenwick
- Placed on IR: RB Ellis Merriweather
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: DT Neil Farrell
- Released: TE Hayden Rucci
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: CB Ambry Thomas
New York Jets
- Signed: DE Kameron Cline
- Released: TE Neal Johnson
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: LB Raekwon McMillan
Szmyt spent time on the Bears’ practice squad last year before playing with the USFL’s St. Louis Battlehawks recently. The 26-year-old terminated his pact with the spring league club to take a deal in Cleveland. A former All-American and Lou Graza winner as the country’s top kicker during his college career, Szmyt could see time late in the year given the Browns’ kicking struggles in 2024.
Thomas appeared to be on his way to join the Colts after he was claimed off waivers by Indianapolis. The veteran corner failed his physical upon arrival with his new team, however, leading to another trip to the waiver wire. No teams put in a claim this time around, but shortly after reaching free agency Thomas has landed a deal. The former 49er has 42 games and 11 starts to his name, and he will provide Minnesota with cornerback depth through the closing stages of the campaign.
Jets’ Kicker Workout Includes Zane Gonzalez, Brayden Narveson, Cade York, Others
OCTOBER 29: Zane Gonzalez and the recently cut Brayden Narveson took part in the Jets’ kicker workout, NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo tweets. The workout also included Patterson, York, Spencer Shrader and Andre Szmyt. Shrader kicked in one game for the Colts this season, filling in for Matt Gay. Szmyt has never kicked in an NFL game.
Narveson missed five field goals in six Packers games, doing so despite not attempting a 50-plus-yarder during his rookie season. The Pack cut him for Brandon McManus this month. Gonzalez has not kicked in a regular-season game since 2021 but was a regular for five straight seasons. The Commanders cut Patterson and traded for York in August, eventually moving on from the latter after Week 1. The Jets have not yet made a signing, but several options are on the radar.
OCTOBER 28: Greg Zuerlein‘s days in New York may be numbered. Following another dreadful outing from the Jets kicker, coach Jeff Ulbrich acknowledged that his team would hold a kicker competition this week (per ESPN’s Rich Cimini). Ulbrich added that the team intends to make a choice before Thursday’s matchup with the Texans, and he strongly hinted that Zuerlein may be sent packing.
“We’re exploring all the options right now,” Ulbrich said (via Brian Costello of the New York Post). “We really are. So we’re going to bring the kickers in for a workout, see where they stand and make a decision after that.”
This isn’t the first time this season that the Jets have considered pivoting away from Zuerlein. The team brought in Cade York, Riley Patterson, and Matt Coghlin earlier this month, but the Jets ended up sticking with the veteran for the time being.
Zuerlein has struggled during his age-37 season, with the kicker missing six of his 15 field goal attempts. In a three-point loss to the Patriots, ‘Greg The Leg’ missed a 44-yard attempt and an extra point. He previously missed a field goal in a one-point loss to the Broncos, and he missed a pair of FGAs during the Jets’ three-point loss to the Bills.
Following an underwhelming start to his New York tenure in 2022, Zuerlein seemed to bounce back in 2023, connecting on 35 of his 38 field goal attempts and 15 of his 16 XP tries. The Jets brought in Austin Seibert as some competition this offseason before ultimately deciding to stay with their incumbent. Seibert proceeded to join the Commanders, where he’s made a league-leading 23 of his 25 field goal attempts.