Browns Make Final Call on Kicker’s Status for Week 3
The Cleveland Browns won’t be needing a new kicker for Week 3 against the Green Bay Packers.
On Sept. 19, it was revealed that kicker Andre Szmyt got injured during practice and was set to undergo an MRI, Browns coach Kevin Stefanski revealed.
“Yeah, during practice. Felt something, we’ll get an MRI and see what it is,” Stefanski said.
When asked if Szmyt would be able to play on Sunday, Stefanski wasn’t sure, as he said they needed to get him checked out.
“I think it’s premature to say,” Stefanski said.
Now, according to NFL insider Ian Rapoport, Szmyt is all cleared and the injury designation has been removed from him, as he will be a full-go in Week 3.
“Browns kicker Andre Szmyt, who had a little scare with his calf on Friday, checked out OK and will kick on Sunday, source says. The team is removing his questionable destination,” Rapoport wrote on X.
It’s good news for the Browns that Cleveland won’t need to find a new kicker for Sunday’s Week 3 home matchup against the Packers.
Szmyt is 2-for-3 on field goals and 3-for-4 on extra points, as he was perfect in Week 2 after he struggled in Week 1.
Browns Were Confident in Szmyt
Cleveland lost 17-16 to the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 1, and a key reason why was Szmyt’s struggles.
Szmyt missed an extra point and a field goal, which would have been the difference in the Browns winning. Yet, after the disappointing week, Cleveland’s special teams coach, Bubba Ventrone, remained confident in his rookie kicker.
“I would say this. You know, he’s done a really good job since he’s been here, you know, from the end of last year on practice squad, from April all the way until this point,” Ventrone said. “So, we have a lot of confidence in him. Had a good practice yesterday. I have confidence that he’s going to get it right…
“So, I think that it’s important that he understands that we support him. And, he also understands that we expect him to make his kicks,” Ventrone added. “So, I think that he’s done everything in his power in the last four days to put it to bed, get back to work, and get the results we want.”
Szmyt rebounded nicely in Week 2.
Cleveland Ready for Challenge of the Packers
The Browns are 0-2 to begin the season and have a big challenge in front of them in Week 3.
Cleveland is set to host the Packers, and Stefanski knows the team poses a lot of problems.
“Coach (Matt) LaFleur’s always done a great job, really, going back to when he was a coordinator and then there in Green Bay,” Stefanski said. “They really do believe in the marriage of the run and the pass. That comes true with their run game and their play actions.
“They do an excellent job of pre-snap motion with wide receivers, with tight ends, with running backs. So, there’s just a lot that goes into it,” Stefanski added. “And ultimately with offensive football, you’re trying to make it look hard on the defense and be simple for you. And I think, I’m sure the way they teach it, it’s simple for them, but it does present challenges.”
Cleveland is an 8.5-point underdog at home to Green Bay.
Russell Wilson Might Not Be Able To Hold off Jaxson Dart for Much Longer
Russell Wilson showed he can still cook.
He no longer gets three stars on the Michelin Guide, but he’s not flipping burgers at the tailgate party in the MetLife Stadium parking lot, either.
So how much longer is Wilson going to be in charge of the New York Giants’ kitchen?
After hearing calls for his job after a Week 1 loss at Washington, the 36-year-old Wilson shredded the host Dallas Cowboys secondary last week, throwing for 450 yards — two shy of his career high — and three touchdowns in the New York Giants’ 40-37 overtime loss.
“I know how talented I am. I know what I’m capable of,” Wilson said when asked about critics who had been calling for apprentice Jaxson Dart to take over. “I don’t need someone to convince me of that. I don’t need outside praise or criticism to convince me of what I’m capable of. … This game meant a lot to me. It was time to answer the call. You know what I mean? For me, it was important to do that — not for anyone else. Just for myself.”
The dessert might have been a bit off — an interception in overtime that led to the Cowboys’ winning field goal — but Wilson will continue slicing and dicing for the Giants’ home opener Sunday night against the three-time defending AFC champion Kansas City Chiefs, who have reached the Super Bowl in five of the past six seasons.
“He’s resilient,” said Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers, who devoured nine Wilson passes for 167 yards and two touchdowns but wasn’t on the same page of the menu on the fateful OT interception. “He knows his preparation. He’s comfortable in there. After that first game, he didn’t look back. He stayed with the same mindset, stayed putting everybody up, stayed in high hopes.”
When grilled, veteran backup QB Jameis Winston said it best: “I saw Russ being Russ.”
Had Wilson not produced a piece de resistance, he might’ve already been demoted to sous chef.
After Wilson was 17 of 37 for 168 yards in a 21-6 flop against the Commanders, coach Brian Daboll declined to immediately name Wilson the Game 2 starter, leading to rampant speculation. Instead, the Giants prepared a few zone-read plays for Dart, the No. 25 overall pick this spring out of Ole Miss. Dart played three snaps in Dallas, a pair of handoffs and a 3-yard loss on a rush.
Daboll said Wilson seemed unaffected by the knives lobbed his way.
“I don't really think Russ worries about that, to be honest with you. I think he's done this for so long. You know it's going to come with the territory, being the quarterback in this league,” Daboll said. “It was business as usual for him during the week. He was preparing and studying, doing all the things at practice. The other stuff that comes with it, I don't think he focuses on that.”
Even if Wilson keeps sizzling, Dart might get his chance sooner rather than later.
A loss to the Chiefs would drop the Giants to 0-3, with a game the following week against the unbeaten Los Angeles Chargers.
After that comes a trip to winless New Orleans, which could be an opportunity to sample Dart’s Cajun cuisine. But Wilson shouldn’t be counted out, as he showed against Dallas.
“As much as people talked last week, kind of got to put your foot in your mouth now,” Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton said. “He kind of answered all your guys’ questions.”
And tastefully so.
