Dawgs By Nature
The Cleveland Browns would have likely won Week 1 if kicker Andre Szymt had made all of his kicks. That performance led us to look back at the Browns kicker curse as well as free agent and practice squad options to take over for the young kicker. Instead, Cleveland backed their kicker heading into Week 2, where Szymt was not the problem in that loss.
Week 3 puts kicker and special teams back on the menu of problems, but this time, due to injury.
To the surprise of many, the Browns did not bring kickers in for workouts after Week 1, which means, given the timing of this week’s injury, they don’t have a chance to see a kicker in action before signing them, if they need to. Cleveland does have a new option in NFL free agency, however:
As noted, Koo was released due to his veteran status and will not have to pass through waivers. Any team could sign him to their active roster or practice squad immediately, as Koo’s release was officially on Friday’s transaction report.
In his eighth season in the NFL, Koo is a career 86% field goal kicker, but missed a career high nine last season. This year, in one game, Koo made both of his extra points but missed a 44-yard attempt at the end of the game that would have sent it into overtime.
The Browns will have to make a decision about Szymt’s health and whether or not to bring in another kicker by Saturday afternoon if they want them available for Week 3 versus the Packers.
