{"id":359492,"date":"2025-09-11T12:53:21","date_gmt":"2025-09-11T12:53:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/359492\/"},"modified":"2025-09-11T12:53:21","modified_gmt":"2025-09-11T12:53:21","slug":"andre-szmyt-keeps-browns-kicking-job-but-can-he-deliver-in-baltimore","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/359492\/","title":{"rendered":"Andre Szmyt keeps Browns kicking job, but can he deliver in Baltimore?"},"content":{"rendered":"

BEREA, Ohio \u2014 Andre Szmyt<\/a> didn\u2019t spend much time over the last three days wondering if his job was in jeopardy.<\/p>\n

The Browns\u2019 first-year kicker was busy trying to correct what he could from the two misses he had in Cleveland\u2019s 17-16 season-opening loss to the Bengals.<\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t really think about it,\u201d he said on Wednesday. \u201cI just tried to make the corrections I needed and just kind of move on.\u201d<\/p>\n

In the end, there was nothing much for him to worry about.<\/p>\n

The Browns didn\u2019t work any other kickers out on their off day Tuesday. They may or may not claim waived 49ers kicker Jake Moody later today, but it didn\u2019t sound like they will.<\/p>\n

Head coach Kevin Stefanski confirmed on Wednesday<\/a> that Szmyt would be the team\u2019s kicker as they head to Baltimore for a Week 2 showdown on Sunday afternoon. <\/p>\n

\u201cYou know, young player, will only get better,\u201d he said. \u201cObviously, he wants to come through in those moments, we expect him to come through in those moments. But just like any player on our roster, we\u2019ll continue to get better.\u201d<\/p>\n

Szmyt is understandably grateful that he gets another opportunity. <\/p>\n

\u201cIt feels good that they believed in me,\u201d Szmyt said. \u201cI kind of flushed last weekend, just focused on this weekend.\u201d <\/p>\n

Officially in his first NFL season out of Syracuse, Szmyt sailed two of his four kicks wide right in the second half of Sunday\u2019s 17-16 loss to the Bengals, a missed extra point after Cedric Tillman\u2019s 5-yard TD catch, and a 36-yard potential game-winner with 2:22 left in the game. <\/p>\n

His two makes were an extra point and a 45-yard field goal earlier in the game. <\/p>\n

The Browns turned to Szmyt<\/a> after parting ways with veteran Dustin Hopkins as they trimmed their roster to 53.<\/p>\n

A former Lou Groza Award winner, Szmyt had previously spent time on the Bears\u2019 practice squad and with the UFL\u2019s St. Louis Battlehawks. But all he had in terms of NFL kicking experience was one made PAT and a 3-for-3 preseason on field goals, including a game-winner in the finale against the Los Angeles Rams.<\/p>\n

The Browns have consistently praised Szmyt\u2019s entire body of work this offseason. <\/p>\n

\u201cI put my best foot forward in the offseason, in training camp, preseason,\u201d he said. \u201cSo like I talked about it at the end of preseason, hitting the game winner, not letting the highs get too high and not think the lows get too low. So now obviously it sucks, but you move on and move on to this week.\u201d <\/p>\n

After the loss to the Bengals, teammates came to Szmyt\u2019s defense, including quarterback Joe Flacco. <\/p>\n

Given his own position, Flacco said he knows how easy it is to feel like all eyes are on you as a player and he can empathize given his own 18-year career. <\/p>\n

\u201cAt some point this week, yes, I\u2019ll be in the office throwing darts with him and look him in the eye and make sure that I can give him the confidence to go out there and do his job, because we\u2019ve all done it,\u201d Flacco said. \u201cIf he\u2019s the player he wants to be, he thinks he is and he wants to be, this isn\u2019t going to be the last time that he\u2019s going to have to deal with something like this. <\/p>\n

\u201cWhen you play as much football as you want to play, if you\u2019re able to do that, then you\u2019re going to have to deal with these things every now and then. So he\u2019s got to keep his head up and just continue to go out there and do what he\u2019s doing.\u201d<\/p>\n

As far as what Szmyt thinks went wrong with those two kicks after having time to review the film, he referenced \u201ccutting it\u201d and not following through and staying with each kick all the way. <\/p>\n

He\u2019s also stayed off social media, and leaned on his fellow specialists in punter Corey Bojorquez and long snapper Rex Sunahara.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think everybody in the specialist position knows what it feels like,\u201d Szmyt said. \u201cIt\u2019s just kind of the same thing, have short-term memory and just forget about it and just move on.\u201d <\/p>\n

For Szmyt, the only kick that matters now is the next one.<\/p>\n

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