Raiders claim former Cal kicker Giorgio Tavecchio off waivers from Lions

The Raiders Tuesday announced they have claimed K Giorgio Tavecchio via waivers from the Detroit Lions. They released kicker Kevin Goessling in a corresponding move.

Tavecchio has been in several training camps over the past three off-season. First spending time with the 49ers in 2012, then the Packers in 2013, and this year's camp with the Lions. He is originally from Italy and played college ball at University of California Berkeley right up the road from Oakland. I guess Fresno State (where Goessling played) wasn't close enough to home for the Raiders' liking.

The left footed kicker will play in place of Sebastian Janikowski in this week's game as Janikowski recovers from a left quad injury. Tavecchip went 1 for 2 on field goals this preseason for the Lions, his one make being from 25 yards out.

The former Cal Bear finished his career with 256 points, ranking fifth on the school's all-time scoring list and fourth among kickers. He converted 48-of-64 (75 percent) field goal attempts and 112-of-120 (93.3 percent) PATs during his three years, ranking third in both all-time made field goals and extra points made.

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