K Dustin Hopkins (8.30.23)
So when did you find out about the trade? What were your thoughts initially?
“I found out, I think maybe an hour before everyone else found out. I was surprised because I didn’t know that it was even a possibility looking at the team landscape stuff. And from what I was hearing back, I didn’t know I could be here. And then here we are. So, I believe in the providence of God and I think that there are no accidents. And so, I’m excited to be here and excited to get to work.”
Up to that day, did you still think you had a chance to be a (Los Angeles) Chargers kicker or did you kind of know that wouldn’t be?
“I had an honest conversation with Tom (Telesco), the GM for the Chargers, and basically just asked him, ‘Did you see me in y’all’s future or did y’all see going with Cam (Cameron Dicker)?’ And he was honest with me, told me, which was awesome because he just let me know that for family planning purposes and stuff – it’s just helpful to know that and be told something up front, which is nice. And so, I knew after our last preseason game we had that conversation that it wouldn’t be there, but I knew they were shopping, so I didn’t know where it could be.”
Did you kick in the Chargers – Browns game last year?
“No. I was hurt on that game, actually, funny enough. But I played here before. But it’s been years before.”
With Washington?
“Yes, sir.”
Dustin, you’ve been with several teams, so you’re kind of an example of perseverance on your field. So talk about that, kind of like what Cade’s (York) going through now.
“Yeah, well, I’ve kicked with Cade in the summertime before, we’ve trained at the same place. I don’t know if he has another kicking coach, but we at least have one kicking coach that we have in common. And he’s (a) super talented kicker. I mean, his leg strength is tough to argue against, so he’ll be fine. This whole game can be frustrating sometimes at any position, but especially kicking. You get to the right spot and everything works out and you get to a wrong spot and it doesn’t. So, I think he’ll have a bright future and, yeah, I wish him well.”
Just a follow up, but your perseverance to go from Buffalo to New Orleans (Saints) and all, what was that like for you?
“Man, to be honest with you, I remember my rookie year, I tore my groin and I remember just praying. I was like, ‘Lord, I’d love to be vested’ and fast forward this is my 11th year. Everything’s a blessing. If I never played again, I’ve got a lot of things to be thankful for, but I stand here x amount of years later and just thankful to still be playing the game. It’s tough, but it’s awesome being part of a team.”
Is there any extra added pressure coming to a kicking situation like this?
“I don’t think so. I don’t read too much into external things just because I don’t think it’s helpful. I try to control what I can control. And besides the location, obviously, this is a notorious place to kick. It’s a tough place to do this job, but at this point in my career, I always tell myself – I try to be focused on the process and not the results. Obviously, we’re in a results-oriented business. I know the results eventually have to be there, but I tell myself I’m process-oriented and the results will come. So, kicking in a place like this and knowing that I need to be at my best is kind of an exciting challenge, even though a tough one at the same time.”
Dustin, you said it’s a notorious place. As kickers, when you’re talking about the various places…
“Everyone knows about Cleveland.”
What are those conversations like? What are you guys specifically talking about?
“Well, you got a handful of places in the league that are notorious, and Cleveland is one of them. I’d say Buffalo’s up there, maybe Chicago. I’m sure there are some places I’m missing, but there’s a handful of places that, you know, they’re on the lake, you’re up north, you’re in a tough division. There’s nothing blocking the wind coming off the lake. It’s just sweeping in there. And so, I’m excited, actually, just getting the opportunity to practice there tomorrow. And even though I’ve played there before, the more you can get practice in a stadium and learn kind of I don’t know the ins and outs of what wind typically does in there when it seems like it’s going to move the ball and it doesn’t. When it doesn’t seem like it’s going to move the ball and it does. So, I’ve got a lot to learn in that stadium, but I’m up for the challenge.”
Did you miss any practice time this year? Did you miss practice time in training camp?
“I did. I had a minor rib injury, and it was one of those things they said, ‘Hey, if you can push forward, you’re not going to make it worse, but it might hurt for two months, or you can just chill out for a week or two and it’ll probably resolve itself.’”
It was just a week?
“Yeah, it was just that. And I just knew that whether it was in LA or now Cleveland, but somewhere else, I’d rather be healthy for my team than have to be fighting an injury that I wouldn’t have to for months.”
Does that come from kind of what happened after that kick against Denver when you had the injury?
“No, they were unrelated.”
I just mean the mindset of, like, ‘I want to be 100% before I kick again.’?
“Oh, yeah, maybe I didn’t purposely think about that, but shoot, subconsciously, maybe. I know it’s a long season and with it being preseason, I don’t want to say the games don’t matter because there are a lot of guys that it means their whole future career. So, I don’t want to say the games don’t matter, but for me, feeling pretty good that I would have a job somewhere, whether that was still in LA or somewhere else, that I wanted to be right for whatever team I was with.”
How frustrating was that injury last year? Was it the quad or the hammy?
“Hamstring. Yeah. It’s like all these injuries, it’s usually not this bad. Last year had a little rough patch. But you said how frustrating was it?”
Yeah, not being able to be out there as much?
“Oh, being hurt, it’s not fun because you feel like you’re doing everything you can to get back healthy. In some weeks you see a jump in improvement. In other weeks, you’re still doing the same right things and you don’t feel any different. So, it can be frustrating, but at the same time, for me, it’s trusting in God’s timing, and oftentimes it’s not as fast as you’d like it to be. So, it was frustrating.”
How did you get a rib injury?
“Kicking. Yeah.”
Dustin, in terms of getting ready for the (Cincinnati) Bengals on opening day, September 10, since you’ve been around the bend a few times. Is it easier to adjust to a new snap hold sequence and kind of just get your mojo down fairly quickly?
“Yeah, I mean, we had a good work day today and it wasn’t perfect and we’re all still learning each other and it’s one of those things I tell them what I like and they tell me what they like and we try to find that perfect mesh of when everybody’s comfortable. So, I thought we got really good work today and we’re just going to get what we’ve got. It’s nice going into this long weekend knowing that we can work this week, next week and feel good going to the game. So, it takes a little bit, but I feel good about the time we have to do it.”
You talk about Cleveland being notorious for being difficult to kick in and how you’re process-oriented. So just over these next two weeks leading into the season, I guess maybe what’s your process of trying to figure out how to be successful kicking here?
“Once again, I try not to think about too many external things, so I really just focus on – am I hitting a pure ball? Do we have a good rhythm, like I just mentioned, with our operation? And if those things are happening, I can figure it out on game day. As far as what the wind is doing, it’s just you want to make sure that the rhythm is good and I’m hitting pure and that’s kind of my only goal. It’ll take some getting used to, but I feel good about it.”
As a kicker, being a veteran like you are and coming into situations, how much of your previous experience gives you even more confidence? Or does it at all, or going from one team to another?
“I am glad that I’m at this point in my career coming here, as opposed to maybe going Buffalo then here. That’s a tough run. I’d rather do it now with this timing, having some experience. I wouldn’t say it’s at the same level as Cleveland, but Washington’s not an easy place to play in at times, and so that’s a lot of experience there for a good window of time. So, yeah, it’s nice. Any reps you can get under your belt as a kicker, as a player at any position, I think is useful, and you learn from a number of things you do. So, I’m excited that the timing is good.”
Since you know Cade, have you had some words with him over the last couple days of encouragement for him?
“I have not yet. Yeah, we’ve trained together, last summer for two days. I know him and we’re friendly, but it’s not like we talk all the time. But yes.”
The grass at Browns Stadium, is that difficult? Because some kickers have said that’s part of the notoriously tough part of it, too.
“When I’ve played there, I’m actually typically kind of pleased with it, like pleasantly surprised, but maybe that also could be a result of me playing there. Off the top of my head, I don’t remember, but at certain times of the year, and oftentimes fields get worse or better as the year goes on and you hope you play certain teams after they’ve switched the new grass in. So maybe I’ve just been fortunate, but when I played there in the past, I felt the grass was pretty good. So, I guess I’ll learn here soon.”
You’re coming to a team with pretty high expectations. Is that exciting to get a chance to maybe kick in some big moments?
“I think yes because anytime when you’re playing games that you’re kicking field goals and you’re down 20 or something, it’s almost harder to focus because you feel like that might not make a difference. But when you’re kicking in meaningful moments, it forces you to – I think oftentimes pressure almost helps focus in a number of different fields. But with kicking, I just feel like, you know, you have to lock in and I want to win. I like winning. I don’t like losing. So anytime I can be on a team with high hopes, high expectations, and with the ability to do it, I would like to be on this team. So, I’m glad to be here.”
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