SEE IT: Hopkins ends WFT minicamp early with 50-yard field goal originally appeared on NBC Sports Washington
As the Washington Football Team finished up mandatory minicamp on Thursday, one period stood between the players and a break until training camp. Well, that and a mock of the team's conditioning test.
Wanting to potentially avoid some extra sprints -- something no one really loves -- kicker Dustin Hopkins came to head coach Ron Rivera with a proposal.
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“Dustin, somebody kind of said something, Dustin stepped up and said, ‘Coach, I’ll tell you what, coach I get a 50-yarder. If I split it, let’s call it a day,’" Rivera said. "So I made the deal with him and he split it."
Hopkins did get it right through the uprights, sending the players into a frenzy that mimicked when school is out for the summer.
"That was kind of cool, the players really appreciated Dustin coming through for us," Rivera said.
The Washington Football Team now has over a month's break before it resumes activity with training camp in Richmond on July 27. Ending mandatory minicamp a little early with a big kick from Hopkins was the perfect way to finish three days of spirited battles and hard work.
As for Hopkins, it was a positive sign to see him hit a long kick under pressure -- even if a game wasn't on the line. After struggling for portions of the 2020 season, Washington will look for more consistency from the veteran. Rivera, who opted to stick with Hopkins through his struggles, believes that won't be the only kick to send the team home happy in 2021.
“There’s a lot more to come for them," Rivera said.
