Mclaughlin will kick for Browns in opener
Stefanski commits days after signing another kicker to practice squad.
BEREA — Chase Mclaughlin isn’t in danger of being kicked to the curb by the Browns ahead of Sunday’s regular-season opener.
After Monday’s practic e, Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said Mclaughlin will serve as the team’s kicker on the road against the defending AFC champion Kansas City Chiefs.
It’s the first time Stefanski has publicly committed to Mclaughlin kicking in a real game for the Browns.
The Browns signed undrafted rookie kicker Chris Naggar to their practice squad Thursday, so they could have staged a kicking
battle this week in practice to decide whether Mclaughlin or Naggar would face the Chiefs.
But Mclaughlin has already received the nod for Week 1.
“Yeah, we go into game one with Chase for sure,” Stefanski said. “I mean, it’s a competition at every position throughout the season, but the plan was always to have two kickers.”
Mclaughlin made 4-of-5 field goals (missed from 57 yards) and 4-of-5 extra points in the preseason. Naggar made 1-of-2 field goals (made from 30 yards and missed from 53 yards) in his lone exhibition appearance with the New York Jets, who waived him on Aug. 16.
Mclaughlin competed with incumbent Browns kicker Cody Parkey for most of training camp, but Parkey suffered a quadriceps injury in the second preseason game Aug. 22 against the New York Giants. The Browns placed Parkey on injured reserve and later waived him with an injury settlement.
Mclaughlin has kicked for five NFL teams. He has made 22-of-28 field goals and 31-of32 extra points in his career, which began when the Buffalo Bills signed him in 2019 as an undrafted free agent.
Browns sign Centerville grad to practice squad
The Cleveland Browns on Monday signed Centerville High School graduate Ifeadi Odenigbo to their practice squad.
Odenigbo, a 6-foot-3, 260pound defensive end, fills the final spot on the team’s 16-man practice squad.
Odenigbo has played in 32 regular-season games, including 15 starts in 2020, since being drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in 2017. He has 59 career tackles, including 10.5 sacks and 10 tackles for loss.
Odenigbo had stints with the Browns (inactive first three games of 2018) and Arizona Cardinals (2018) before playing two seasons on the Vikings’ active roster (201920). He spent this past offseason with the New York Giants.