CLEVELAND — Following a disappointing season opener, the Cleveland Browns waived kicker Austin Seibert.
Nevertheless, Seibert will still be at FirstEnergy Stadium for the Browns' home opener on Thursday night.
According to Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network, the Cincinnati Bengals have claimed Seibert off of waivers and will presumably make the Oklahoma product their starting kicker for their matchup against the Browns on Thursday night. The Bengals had a need at kicker after starter Randy Bullock suffered a calf injury missing a would-be game-tying kick vs. the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday.
While waiver transactions aren't finalized until 4 p.m. ET, the Bengals currently lay claim to the league's top priority.
The Browns' decision to waive Seibert came after the 2019 fifth-round pick missed his only field goal attempt (40 yards) and extra-point try in Cleveland's 38-6 loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday. Last season, Seibert made 25 of his 29 field goal attempts and 30 of his 35 extra point tries.
"I expect him to make those kicks," Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said after the game on Sunday. "I hold him to the same standard that we hold every other player on this team. He has to make those kicks."
In Seibert's place, Cleveland promoted veteran Cody Parkey from its practice squad. Over the course of a six-year NFL career, Parkey has appeared in 68 regular-season games, connecting on 102 of his 121 field goal attempts, with a career-long of 54 yards. In 2016, Parkey served as Cleveland's starting kicker for 14 games and has since spent time as a member of the Miami Dolphins, Chicago Bears and Tennessee Titans.