Cade York has disappointed, but Browns staying patient | Jeff Schudel

Dec. 3—Cade York has two things working against him as the Browns' kicker, but one of them is not holder Corey Bojorquez, according to Browns special teams coordinator Mike Priefer.

Pressure is on York because the Browns selected him in the fourth round of the 2022 draft. He lived up to that billing when he kicked a 58-yard field goal with 13 seconds left in the fourth quarter to beat the Panthers, 26-24, in the season opener. He successfully kicked field goals of 26, 34 and 36 yards prior to the game-winner.

There is also the matter of being a rookie learning to kick in NFL stadiums. York did not have to deal with foul weather kicking for LSU.

York has not been sensational since his debut. He is 13 of 19 on field goal tries over the last 10 games. He is 22 of 24 on PATs since the opener.

Three field goal tries by York were blocked. Priefer said all three kicks were low.

York was wide left from 39 yards in the second quarter last week in a game with the Buccaneers after hitting from 51 yards in the first quarter. But he did connect on a critical PAT to tie the score 17-17 after Jacoby Brissett threw a 12-yard touchdown pass on fourth down with 32 seconds left. The Browns won in overtime on a three-yard run by Nick Chubb with 19 seconds left.

The miss from 39 yards produced a theory that the problem isn't York — it's Bojorquez. Used as evidence was the fact Mason Crosby, the Packers' kicker since 2007, made just 25 of 34 attempts in 2021 (73.5 percent) in the only season Bojorquez was his holder. It was Crosby's worst year kicking in 10 seasons.

"The holds have been outstanding," Priefer said on Dec. 1. "Corey has really worked extremely hard since he got here. I know one of the criticisms he had leaving Green Bay was he wasn't a great holder. He's developed into I think a very, very good holder, and he's only going to get better. He works hard at it

"He has a great mentality and great temperament to be a holder. He doesn't panic. Even if (the snap) might be a little bit off, he'll get it down. For us, it's the snap, the spot, the tilt and laces in that order. He's worked really hard being quick and smooth."

York was wide right from 45 yards and 54 yards in a game the Browns lost to the Chargers, 30-28, on Oct. 9. The miss from 45 yards occurred with 16 seconds left in the first half and the Browns leading, 21-17. The miss from 54 yards was with the game on the line. The Browns trailed, 30-28, with 16 seconds remaining when he was wide right again.

Consider the misses as growing pains the Browns are willing to live with because York is a rookie — and because they invested a fourth-round pick in him.

"I believe in Cade," Priefer said. "I told him that. I won't get into our entire conversations — that's between Cade and I — but I really believe in him. I believe we made the right decision to draft him.

"I believe we're going to make the right decision in sticking with him. I think he's a very talented young man who is only going to get better."

For comparison's sake, Chase McLaughlin was 36 of 37 on PATs and 15 of 21 on field goal attempts in 2021 in his only season as the Browns' kicker. All his misses were between 40-49 yards.

McLaughlin is kicking for the Colts this year. He is 12 of 12 on PATs and 20 of 25 on field goals. He is 6 of 9 from 50 yards and longer.