BRYAN PATRICK / Bee file, 2008

Sebastian Janikowski looks up after kicking a booming field goal. At 33, the veteran Raiders kicker says he's working hard to stay in shape.

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Raiders' Janikowski shows off magic foot in camp with 64-yard field goal

Published: Thursday, Aug. 25, 2011 - 12:00 am | Page 3C
Last Modified: Thursday, Aug. 25, 2011 - 11:40 am

NAPA – The Raiders ended practice Wednesday with a power-kicking exhibition from Sebastian Janikowksi. He drilled a 64-yard field goal, then came up just short on a 69-yard attempt.

It's safe to say the lockout didn't hurt Janikowski. He said he kicked three or four times a week and spent more time than usual working out in the gym, lifting weights.

"Getting older, so you've got to lift more," said Janikowski, who turned 33 in March. "Take care of my body a little bit better."

Janikowski kicked a team-record 61-yard field goal in 2009 at Cleveland – two yards shy of the NFL record. Last year, he boomed a 59-yarder at home against Indianapolis. He said he made a 70-yarder earlier in training camp.

"That's reassuring to know you have a guy who can probably kick it from anywhere on the plus side of the field and have a chance," Raiders coach Hue Jackson said. "I've been around four teams, and I've never seen a guy kick a ball like that. It's not like he's taking a running start. The guy takes two steps and boom, there goes the ball, it goes through the uprights."

Jones blazes – Rookie running back Taiwan Jones clocked as fast as a 4.24 40-yard dash during his pro day in March, and he flashed some of that blazing speed Wednesday after catching a swing pass and turning upfield.

"God, can this guy run," Jackson said. "He's extremely fast, but he's very nimble and very smooth. … For a guy that's built like he is, he's very physical. There's a lot of velocity behind the man when he runs into a pile."

The 6-foot, 195-pound Jones, who went to Antioch's Deer Valley High School, missed the first two exhibition games because of a hamstring injury. He'll make his NFL debut Sunday against New Orleans at O.co Coliseum.

Injuries mount – Another day, another injured Raiders tight end. This time, backup Brandon Myers limped off the field during practice and went to the locker room after injuring a foot.

Starter Kevin Boss has been out since injuring his left knee Saturday against the 49ers. Rookie David Ausberry missed his third straight practice with an undisclosed injury.

The Raiders finished practice with two healthy tight ends, rookie Richard Gordon and Kevin Brock, who spent last season on the practice squad.

"You got to take advantage of it," said Gordon, a sixth-round pick from Miami. "This is the time we got a lot of tight ends hurt, and somebody has to step up."

Jackson said Myers was kicked in a foot.

"Hopefully, that will be just a ding. Hopefully, he'll be OK and we can get him back out here and get him playing," Jackson said.

Et cetera – Quarterback Terrelle Pryor, the Raiders' third-round pick in the supplemental draft, has yet to sign his contract and report to camp. His agent, Drew Rosenhaus, told ESPN that Pryor will not appeal his five-game suspension by the NFL.

• The Raiders adjusted their schedule and will take today off. They'll practice Friday in Napa and break camp, then do a walk-through Saturday at team headquarters in Alameda.

© Copyright The Sacramento Bee. All rights reserved.

Read more articles by Eric Gilmore



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