Auburn football: Former kicker Cody Parkey placed on Browns’ injured reserve

In the last decade or so, Auburn football has been known for its strong kickers. From Wes Byrum’s title-winning field goal to the Carlson dynasty, the Tigers have enjoyed long-term confidence in the kicking game.

Former Auburn placekicker Cody Parkey has spent seven seasons in the NFL since leaving the Plains, but his eighth season will put his career on hold for now. After a successful first season with the Cleveland Browns in 2020, where he took over the starting position in week 2, Parkey has been moved to the Browns’ injured reserve.

As noted by Dawg Pound Daily, a fellow FanSided site supporting the Cleveland Browns, Parkey couldn’t be designated by the Browns because he was placed on IR prior to September 1.

Parkey made 19 of 22 field goals in 2020 but will be out for the 2021 season with a quad injury, making Chase McLaughlin the apparent starter for the Browns this season. The pair had been battling for the starting position at camp, but now the competition is over.

Over four seasons with Auburn football, Parkey made 39 field goals and 136 PATs, averaging 5.5 points per game. He went undrafted in the 2014 NFL Draft but signed with the Indianapolis Colts, who then traded him to the Philadelphia Eagles.

After a breakout rookie season, Parkey was injured in 2015 and waived by the Eagles in 2016. That same year he signed on for the first time with the Cleveland Browns before being waived in 2017 and heading to the Miami Dolphins.

In 2018, Parkey became a Chicago Bear but was eventually released after 11 missed kicks in his first season there. He spent a short time with the Tennessee Titans in 2019 before being released and signing to the Browns’ practice squad in 2020. He was quickly moved to Cleveland’s active roster for a year before being placed back on the injured reserve with the quad injury.