2018 Oakland Raiders training camp: Top-10 storylines
By Brad Weiss
Pineiro stars at kicker
Last season, Sebastian Janikowski was injured right before the season started, and Giorgio Tavecchio had to step in and handle the kicking duties. Seabass never returned, and Tavecchio did a nice job, especially with having to replace a franchise mainstay in Janikowski.
After the 2018 NFL Draft, the Raiders were quick to sign Florida kicker Eddy Pineiro, and he came into the offseason ready to challenge Tavecchio for the starting job. Well, Pineiro kicked so well that the Raiders got rid of Giorgio almost immediately during training camp, essentially handing the job to the rookie.
Pineiro has not disappointed, blasting three field goals in his NFL debut, and putting an extra point through the upright. He has the leg, and the confidence to be a star in this league, and with his college teammate, Johnny Townsend, serving as the punter, it should be a seamless transition to the NFL this Fall.