The Browns may have spent years chasing stability at kicker, but Andre Szmyt is giving them exactly that - and the league is taking notice.
Szmyt picked up AFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors after another clean performance in Cleveland’s win over Tampa Bay, a game that fit neatly into the pattern he’s been building since the start of last season. For the Browns, it’s become simple: when Szmyt lines up, points usually follow.
This season, he’s been perfect. Szmyt is tied for first in the league in field goal percentage at 100%, and he’s also at 100% on extra points. His longest make so far is from 50 yards, though fans have already seen enough to believe he can go beyond that with no issue.
His latest award case was strong. Szmyt finished with eleven kicking points, going two for two from 30-39 yards and drilling a 50-yard field goal. That kind of day only adds to a résumé that’s been growing quickly.
The consistency has been the real story. Szmyt hasn’t missed a field goal since week eight of last season, and he hasn’t missed an extra point since week one of last season. That’s the kind of run that changes how a team feels about a position that had been a problem for Cleveland for years.
The Browns already had a strong sense they’d found a franchise kicker. Now the NFL has backed that up with awards, and Szmyt’s early career is starting to look like the beginning of something much bigger.
There’s every reason to think more weekly honors could be on the way if he keeps this up. And if Deshaun Watson and the Browns’ offense keep creating scoring chances, Szmyt should keep getting chances to add to that perfect start.
For now, Cleveland has what it’s been searching for: a kicker it can trust every time he steps out there.
In Other News...
Browns Fans Will Love How Cleveland Is Closing Nick Chubbs Career
Nick Chubbs time in Cleveland is about to get the kind of ending that fits the way he carried himself on and off the field. The former Browns star will sign a one-day contract with the team so he can officially retire as a member of the organization, a fitting bookend for a player who became one of the defining backs of his era in Cleveland.
Chubbs career with the Browns was marked by greatness even as injuries cut into his availability, and his resume still stands out with four Pro Bowl selections and a second-team All-Pro nod. Cleveland is planning to honor him during its home opener after his retirement announcement on Aug. 21, giving fans one more chance to celebrate a player whose impact went far beyond the box score. [Read more 🡒]
Browns Rookie Is Forcing His Way Into A Bigger Role Fast
Emmanuel McNeil-Warren has already made himself noticeable in Cleveland, even if most of his early work has come away from the spotlight. The second-round pick has spent the first two weeks doing much of his damage on special teams, where he has three tackles and, according to Pro Football Focus, the highest special teams grade on the team.
The Browns have been able to bring him along at a measured pace because of a strong safety tandem in front of him, which has kept his defensive snaps limited for now. But there is a clear expectation inside the building that his role on defense will grow as he gets more comfortable, and the early returns suggest he is making it hard to keep him in a narrow lane for long. [Read more 🡒]
Browns Home Opener Suddenly Looks Like A Bigger Test Than Expected
The Browns home opener now has a little more weight on it after Carolina picked up its first win of the season by beating Atlanta. What had looked like a manageable early test suddenly carries a different feel, especially with Bryce Young showing signs of progress after a rocky start and the Panthers getting meaningful contributions on the defensive side from Devin Lloyd. For Cleveland, it is the kind of matchup that can tell you quickly whether an opponent is settling in or still searching for itself.
Carolinas overall profile is still hard to pin down, though, and that is what makes this one worth watching. The Panthers have not fully answered the bigger questions around their consistency, particularly on defense, where steady play may end up being the difference between a useful surprise and an uneven team. For the Browns, the challenge is less about the opponents record and more about how much cleaner and more reliable this version of Carolina might be than the one many expected to show up in September. [Read more 🡒]