BEREA — Riley Patterson wasn't ready to declare himself the Browns kicker for their AFC wild card game at the Houston Texans. He wasn't going to act like the moment would be too big if it happened to be him kicking, either.

"I think play it by ear for sure," Patterson said before Tuesday's practice when asked about the plans for Saturday's game. "But, yeah, if I'm going in, I'll definitely be ready. Played last year with Jacksonville, which was a lot of fun. So, yeah, I'll be ready for whatever."

"Whatever" sure sounds like "definitely" after Browns coach Kevin Stefanski announced later in the day it was "unlikely" that Dustin Hopkins would be kicking for the Browns against the Texans as he continues to rehab a left hamstring injury. That would mean another week of Patterson, the 24-year-old practice squad kicker who kicked in Cleveland's final two regular-season games, handling those duties.

It's not quite fair to call Patterson a "practice squad kicker," though. That would have been like calling Joe Flacco a "practice squad quarterback" in early December.

Over two playoff games last season with the Jaguars, Patterson made all three field goals and all four PATs.

This season, Patterson's made 6 of 7 PATs and his only field goal try, a 33-yard kick in Week 17 against the New York Jets, with the Browns. However, he knows the kicks that await him in Houston are much more important.

"Well, it's what you do it for, man," Patterson said. "You don't dream about, when you're younger, playing in a regular-season game or playing or kicking in the first quarter. You do it in the fourth quarter, game on the line in the playoffs. It definitely means more in the playoffs. At the same time, it's you, it's the snap, it's the hold, it's the operation, the guys blocking and it's putting it through the uprights."

Patterson always had a feeling he would be kicking again in the playoffs this season. That it was for the Browns wasn't exactly on the bingo card for him.

The former University of Memphis product started the season with the Detroit Lions, the same team for which he had kicked in seven games during the 2021 season. Patterson was 15 of 17 on field goals and 35 of 37 on PATs over the first 13 games for the eventual NFC North champions this season.

However, in Week 15, Michael Badgley returned from injury and Patterson was inactive for a game against the Denver Broncos. He was waived just a couple of days later.

"Well, Badgley was there the whole year with me, and then they obviously just played him for the Denver game," Patterson said. "After that they let me go. They just wanted to go with him. That's pretty much how that went. Yeah, that's really all there is to it. They just chose to play him over me."

The Lions waived Patterson on Dec. 19. On Dec. 24, Hopkins tried to tackle Houston's Dameon Pierce on a kickoff return for a touchdown and injured his left hamstring.

The next day, on Christmas, the Browns called Patterson.

"Well, after I got let go [by] Detroit, I knew there may be opportunities out there for a couple teams," Patterson said. "Did not think Cleveland would be one of them. But, yeah, I mean, Dustin getting hurt, obviously it was unfortunate for him and for his team. So on Christmas I get a plate of food and then they call me like, 'Hey, ready to go?'"

There's still a chance Hopkins could kick again for the Browns if they continue to win in the playoffs. That could even be a soon as the divisional round if they can win in Houston on Saturday.

Even though Hopkins had what seemed like a Pro Bowl season derailed by the hamstring injury, he has remained around the facility while trying to work his way back into form to be able to kick again. While there, he's made sure to provide as much assistance to Patterson as possible.

Hopkins, after all, was the new kicker in town in late August when he was acquired in a post-preseason trade with the Los Angeles Chargers. Now, he's passed that on to the newest kicker in town.

"I met Dustin a couple times and we've kicked with each other before," Patterson said. "I cannot tell you how big of a fan I am of his. I think he's an amazing kicker. He's been nothing but kind to me, has helped me out in every way possible. I couldn't be more appreciative of him. Every way, shape, or form that you think he could help me out, he has, and he's been excited to do."

Chris Easterling can be reached at ceasterling@thebeaconjournal.com. Read more about the Browns at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/browns. Follow him on Twitter at @ceasterlingABJ

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Riley Patterson ready for playoff kicks for Dustin Hopkins-less Browns