Undrafted rookie Eddy Pineiro was supposed to be the team’s kicker this season. They
brought in Mike Nugent in training camp to replace
Oakland Raiders T-Shirt left-footed kicker Giorgio
Tavecchio who was the team’s kicker last year. But it was clearly Pineiro’s job
to lose. Then Pineiro was lost to an injury and the job was Nugent’s.Now Nugent
is injured. The veteran kicker suffered a hip injury in the team’s game in
Miami, and Jon Gruden is concerned he may not be able to go against the Browns
this week. Unlike some positions, there is no backup kicker, so when the kicker
can’t go, a replacement must be added.“We’ll be trying out numerous people,
trying to find the best available kicker possible,” Gruden said Monday. “Rich
Bisaccia
Oakland Raiders Hats , and I know Reggie McKenzie, are up there working getting some flights organized right now.”For those wondering, no Pineiro is not an
option. He was placed on injured reserve and is out for the season. In order to
even be eligible to return after eight games, Pineiro would have had to be on
the initial roster on the final cutdown to 53.Tavecchio is certainly an option,
though he was released because the team didn’t want Johnny Townsend to have to
keep switching sides as the holder.There are a lot of experiences kickers out
there. Dan Bailey was the top free agent out there until last week when he
signed with the Vikings. The short list of remaining possibilities include Cairo
Santos, Dan Carpenter, Nick Novak
Oakland Raiders Hoodie , and Kai Forbath.Follow @LeviDamien Each week it seems another Reggie McKenzie draft pick is sent packing or is benched in favor of the
new players Jon Gruden has brought in over the past few months since taking the
head coaching job in Oakland. One of those who has been buried on the depth
chart is former top pick Karl Joseph.The once highly touted safety out of West
Virginia has never been able to fully establish himself since the Raiders made
him their pick at 14 overall in the 2016 draft. Even with the serious issues the
team has had at safety this season, Joseph barely saw the field over the first
three weeks. Then he suffered a hamstring injury and has missed the past two
games. He is back practicing this week and is questionable vs the Seahawks on
Sunday.What exactly Gruden’s plan is for Joseph is unclear. He didn’t draft him
so he feels no attachment to him. Being on defense doesn’t help either,
considering Gruden is an offensive guy. It would make sense to get Joseph on the
field and see if he can be the safety this team needs over the final 2-3 years
of his rookie contract. But if that’s not in that cards for him, might they look
to trade him?ESPN’s Bill Barnwell thinks so. He listed Joseph as potential trade
bait ahead of the deadline with the Falcons being the team whereby he could be
shipped.A sixth round pick doesn’t seem like nearly enough compensation for a
player who has untapped potential like Joseph and at least a couple years left
on his rookie contract. I would say at least a fifth round pick, even if it’s
conditional.But more so, maybe giving him a shot to see if he can be an upgrade
over the underachieving group they have now would be a good idea too?What do you
think?
