Raiders kicker Sebastian Janikowski was nammed AFC Special Teams Player of the Month. (US Presswire) |
Raiders kicker Sebastian Janikowski was honored Thursday for his nearly perfect October.
After making 10 of 11 field goals, Janikowski was named the AFC Special Teams Player of the Month.
Janikowski won the award for the fourth time in his career, including three of the past six.
Last month, Janikowski made a 40-yard game-winner in overtime against Jacksonville. His only miss in October came at the end of regulation that day from 64 yards -- one yard longer than the NFL record he shares with Tom Dempsey, Jason Elam and David Akers.
"He's done a good job," Raiders coach Dennis Allen said. "It's a comforting thing to know you can put him out there and feel confident that he's going to kick it through. We've put him in a couple game-winning situations, and he's come through both times. That's really a comforting feeling for the coach to have to make that decision."
Janikowski, who made the Pro Bowl for the first time last year in his 12th NFL season, has made 24 of his past 25 field goals, dating to Dec. 24, 2011. He's made 43 straight from less than 40 yards.
"He's kicking the ball pretty well right now," Raiders long snapper Jon Condo said. "His body's feeling good. His confidence level right now, it's just one of those things, like a basketball player, a golfer, when you're in the zone, you're in the zone. He's feeling pretty good right now."
Down and likely out: Outside linebacker Keenan Clayton, a special teams regular, missed practice again Thursday with an injured A.C. joint in his right shoulder and said he'll probably be inactive Sunday against Tampa Bay.
Clayton was injured two weeks ago against Jacksonville while trying to recover a Jaguars on-side kick.
"I finished the Jacksonville game, played the first half of the Kansas City game, just in a lot of pain," Clayton said. "I couldn't do too much more. Shut it down. See how this week goes. I haven't practiced much so probably be inactive."
Clayton said rest is "the only thing you really can do" to recover from an A.C. joint injury.
Injury report: CB Shawntae Spencer (foot), OT Khalif Barnes (groin) and Clayton were the only Raiders who did not participate in practice. Spencer and Barnes will all but certainly miss their sixth straight games Sunday.
DT Richard Seymour (knee) returned to practice after missing one day but was limited. OT Willie Smith (ankle), C Stefen Wisniewski (ankle), Janikowski (left groin), LB Rolando McClain (toe), LB Travis Goethel (back) and DE Dave Tollefson (shoulder) were also limited.
Extra points: The Raiders stood pat at the NFL trade deadline, which had been pushed back two days to Thursday at 1 p.m. PT because of Hurricane Sandy. ... The Raiders received a one-day extension to try to sell enough tickets for Sunday's home game to avoid a local television blackout. They've gone 11 straight home games without a blackout.
Follow Raiders reporter Eric Gilmore on Twitter @CBSRaiders.