Browns kicker Dustin Hopkins gets meme treatment over brutal shanks
Cleveland Browns kicker Dustin Hopkins got the dreaded meme treatment after a terrible first half against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday.
The Saints were trailing 14-6 with 14 seconds remaining in the first half at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, La. Hopkins attempted what should have been an easy 32-yard field goal on 4th-and-6, but he shanked it badly wide left:
This first half has been so disastrous for Dustin Hopkins that he even missed this 32 yd field goal, only to get bailed out with a strange Saints holding penalty. #NFL pic.twitter.com/oXiP7W4fdA
— The Whole Delivery (@TWDTV1) November 17, 2024
Hopkins caught a huge break when the Saints were called for defensive holding, which gave Cleveland an automatic first down. Jameis Winston then threw two incompletions, so Hopkins trotted back out to attempt a 27-yard field goal as time expired in the second quarter. The result was exactly the same, as Hopkins shanked the kick wide left again.
Dustin Hopkins just missed a 27-yard field goal attempt.. pic.twitter.com/qdnMg8qhCF
— Arye Pulli (@AryePulli) November 17, 2024
Hopkins also missed a 51-yard field goal wide left earlier in the half, so he was definitely battling the yips. Fans on social media showed him no sympathy:
Dustin Hopkins: pic.twitter.com/N7ZL6G8pUG
— Cleveland Sports Talk (@CLEsportsTalk) November 17, 2024
Dustin Hopkins today pic.twitter.com/XqfHR5tHA6
— Elisha Twerski (@ElishaTwerski) November 17, 2024
Hopkins tomorrow pic.twitter.com/HeAomRIXmr
— azndfs (@azndfs) November 17, 2024
Good luck in the future Dustin Hopkins. pic.twitter.com/OBHDEIfyhu
— Long Beach Mike (@longbeachmike73) November 17, 2024
Hopkins, a 10-year NFL veteran, has struggled a bit this season after he was extremely reliable for the Browns last year. Hopkins entered Sunday 14/18 on field goal attempts after he converted 33/39 — or nearly 92% — last season. His performance against the Saints is going to drag his average for 2024 down even more.
