Raiders kicker Daniel Carlson has had stellar 2020 season

Prior to the season, one of the biggest questions about the Las Vegas Raiders was their kicking situation.

Could Daniel Carlson bounce back?

That was a major question and with three games remaining, the answer is a resounding “yes.” The third-year kicker has been tremendous this season.

Carlson has made 26-of-28 field goal attempts this season, which is excellent. Last year, he missed seven of 26 attempts. The 2018 draft pick of the Minnesota Vikings made 16-of-17 field goal attempts after being cut by the Vikings and claimed by the Raiders.

He has settled in nicely in 2020 and looks like the long-term replacement for the great Sebastian Janikowski. Raiders coach Jon Gruden is thrilled by what his kicker is achieving this season.

“I really like him a lot. I think he’s a talent,” Gruden said. “He’s a rare talent. He’s also got a great demeanor about him. He’s never too high, never too low. His first year kicking here, I think he made 17 in a row.

He did run into some tough times last year like a lot of these kickers do. I’ve seen great golfers three-putt greens. I don’t think anybody’s perfect. He never lost his confidence. Rich Bisaccia and Byron Storer, our special teams coaches, believe in him. We have a great battery too. AJ Cole is a great holder. Trent [Sieg] is a really good long snapper, and I just think the kid is a money man. He’s a guy I got a lot of confidence in.”