Washington Football Team kicker Chris Blewitt had never kicked in an NFL regular season game when he made his debut last week in Green Bay. From his first kick, it was apparent Washington was already regretting their decision of releasing veteran kicker Dustin Hopkins for Blewitt.
Blewitt’s first field goal attempt was blocked by the Packers. But, he did make a 42-yard kick later in the game. But Washington’s head coach Ron Rivera’s decision to go for it on fourth down rather than attempt a field goal, may have pointed to the fading confidence in Blewitt.
Sunday against the Denver Broncos, Rivera may have realized he completely blew it with the kicking change. Two of Blewitt’s three field goal attempts were blocked.
His attempt against the Broncos was actually blocked by his own teammate!
The kick was so low that it bounced off the helmet of Washington offensive lineman Wes Schweitzer.
Blewitt did, however, make his next attempt, a 52-yard boom of a kick in the second quarter. It’s a distance that Hopkins struggled with over the past two seasons.
But in the fourth quarter with the game tied at 10-10, Blewitt’s 47-yard field goal attempt was blocked.
The Broncos scored the go-ahead touchdown on the ensuing possession that helped sink Washington in their 17-10 loss.
Following the game, Rivera took responsibility for blowing the kicking situation.
“I made a decision on a kicker, that’s on me,” Rivera admitted per WUSA-9’s Darren Haynes.
Blewitt went undrafted out of the University of Pittsburgh in 2017. He hadn’t kicked in a regular season game since 2016. He was a fitness trainer and worked in a UPS warehouse prior to his signing with Washington.
Meanwhile, Hopkins struggled but he was an 84-percent kicker during seven seasons in Washington.
Even if Rivera makes an obvious kicking change, he won’t be able to apologize and re-sign Hopkins. Hopkins signed with the Los Angeles Chargers last week a day after posting a heartfelt goodbye to Washington teammates and fans.
Hopkins made a 48-yard field goal Sunday for the Chargers against the New England Patriots. He was also 3-of-3 on extra points.
Kicking is just one of the issues hampering Washington in their 2-6 start. But, it was hard to pinpoint Hopkins at the top of the list of blame. Now the choice to go with Blewitt adds to the growing list of Rivera’s touches that have gone wrong this season in Washington.
