ALAMEDA – Minnesota kicker Daniel Carlson missed three field goals in as many tries back in Week 2, leaving the Vikings to tie a game they should’ve won.
Head coach Mike Zimmer was incensed. It didn’t matter than Carlson was a rookie, or a fifth-round draft pick. The Vikings cut him the next day.
The Auburn product would get no immediate shot at redemption. He had to wait and wait and wait for another shot.
“It’s not fun sitting on the couch on Sundays,” Carlson said. “You really want to be out there and get a chance to prove yourself again and put all the work to the test.”
The exam starts when the Raiders play Indianapolis on Sunday afternoon. The Silver and Black signed Carlson this week after Matt McCrane missed four field goals in three games and failed to generate touchbacks.
Carlson is the Raiders’ fifth kicker employed since training camp began and third since the regular season started. Giorgio Tavecchio got cut in August in favor of Eddy Piñeiro, who suffered a season-ending groin injury a short while later. Mike Nugent took over and fared well, but succumbed to a hip injury. McCrane wasn’t good enough, giving this new kid a shot.
Head coach Jon Gruden’s looking for stability at the position, and hopes Carlson can answer the call.
“We’ve had enough kickers in here,” Gruden said. “Hopefully he can give us some good kickoffs. He has a huge leg. We liked him coming out of college at Auburn. He had a couple missed in Minnesota but all kickers do. We think he has big upside. He has done well since he’s been here, and hopefully he takes advantage of this opportunity.”
That is Carlson’s only goal, and has been since he got cut following his terrible day at the office. He knows the leash is short, especially after what happened with Minnesota. The Raiders are desperate for a win, and can’t have kicker problems get in the way.
That’s why McCrane got the boot. Carlson worked out with the team on Tuesday and was signed later that day and ready to make up for past mistakes.
“You learn a lot from moments like that,” Carlson said. “Obviously, it sucks. I have grown over the last four or five weeks since it happened, and learned about the NFL experience. It’s different going through it. I’m better for having gone through all that, I’m looking forward to the future here. I feel really good about this opportunity.”
The Raiders still like Piñeiro, who will compete for the 2019 job at the very least. Carlson has a real shot to make this a long-term stop if he performs consistently and with poise under pressure.
“It’s a great opportunity for me, a chance to re-prove myself,” he said. “I’m excited to get to know the team real quick and leave a good first impression this Sunday and build something stable for the future here.”
Stay in the game with the latest updates on your beloved Bay Area and California sports teams! Sign up here for our All Access Daily newsletter.