The Raiders have had many deficient portions of the roster recently. Kicker hasn't been one. Stability reigned at that spot, with Seabastian Janikowski handling the job for 17 years. He got hurt before last season began, and Giorgio Tavecchio filled in admirably.
This season, however, the Raiders can't find the right one.
They signed undrafted free agent Eddy Pineiro before the season as a long-term solution, but he suffered a groin injury in training camp and ended up on season-ending injured reserve.
Tavecchio was cut early in camp for veteran Mike Nugent, who stepped in once Pineiro got hurt. He went three games before ending up on IR with a hip injury.
Matt McCrane stepped in at that point, and missed four field goals in three games.
That's why, on Tuesday afternoon, the Raiders moved on to their fourth kicker. They signed Daniel Carlson and waived McCrane in a corresponding move.
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Carlson's name might sound familiar. The Auburn product was Minnesota's fifth-round draft pick this year, but was cut after a Week 2 loss in which he missed all three field goal attempts.
This recent kicker move comes a day after Tavecchio went 3-for-3 for Atlanta in the Falcons' victory over the New York Giants, where he connect twice from 50-plus including a 56-yarder that produced the final margin of victory.
Carlson converted 80 percent of his attempt in college, and hit on 87 percent as a junior in 2016.
In other Raiders news, the roster is back at 53 after the team promoted receiver Marcell Ateman and offensive lineman Denver Kirkland off the practice squad. It was at 51 after the Amari Cooper trade and Marshawn Lynch's move to injured reserve.
Obi Melifonwu was released off injured reserve, a move long expected after he was waived-injured before the initial 53-man roster was set.
