The Cleveland Browns will be relying on Andre Szmyt to handle kicking duties on Sunday in Week 2.
Szmyt missed an extra point and a field goal, which proved to be the difference in a 17-16 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. Despite the struggles, Cleveland didn’t try out any kickers, and that is because the Browns are confident in him, according to special teams coach Bubba Ventrone.
“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.”
Although Ventrone is confident in Szmyt, he says they know what went wrong, and it was him not finishing the kick. So, Ventrone is confident that Szmyt will be able to get back on track in Week 2.
“I’ll say this too, like, when that stuff happens, you miss a kick that impacts a game like that…I mean, obviously we know how he feels and what’s the best thing to do. I mean, you’re gonna support the guy that you believe in,” Ventrone said. “So, I think that it’s important that, you know, he understands that we support him, and he also understands that we expect him to make his kicks. 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 signed with the Browns in December of 2024 and finished last season on the practice squad.
Browns Coach Believes Szmyt Deserves Another Chance
Although Szmyt did make some errors in Week 1, Ventrone believes the kicker will be much better in Week 2.
Meanwhile, the Browns’ special teams coach believes teams give up on kickers too early, and the team sees something in Szmyt.
“I honestly think that it goes back to just the body of work that we’ve seen since he’s been here,” Ventrone added. “I think that when we’re seeing the results in a practice setting and then in the – I know it’s a preseason games, but in the preseason games, did he have not a great game in the opener? Yeah. But I think that because of what we’ve seen to this point, we have confidence that we’ll get back on track.”
It’s clear the Browns are confident in Szmyt and believe he will bounce back in a big way in Week 2 when Cleveland goes on the road to play the Baltimore Ravens.
Szmyt Explains What Went Wrong in Week 1
Szmyt struggled in Week 1 as he missed two key kicks, which proved to be the difference.
The 26-year-old believes he rushed his approach on both missed kicks, and he’s confident he can correct it.
“Similar to the extra point, I rushed my approach and pushed the ball. I got to do better and I expect better out of myself,” Szmyt said. “Just try and forget about it and move on to next week… Watch the film and see what went wrong. That’s kind of what it felt like. Forget about it and give myself 24 hours, analyze what happened and move on.”
Although the Browns are confident in Szmyt, it’s clear he could be on a short leash in Week 2.
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