ALAMEDA — Sebastian Janikowski became a Raider less than five months into the 21st century.

He’s the longest-tenured player in team history and Oakland’s all-time leading scorer by a mile. Yet after a back injury that has prohibited the lefty from kicking this season, his time as a Raider may be up.

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Raiders O-lineman humorously mocks himself for helicopter fumble Janikowski becomes an unrestricted free agent after this season, but how much incentive do the Raiders have to bring him back? They can designate him to return off injured reserve at any time this year, but Giorgio Tavecchio is getting the job done.

Tavecchio is 12-of-14 on field goals and 22-of-23 on extra points, his lone miss coming after a faulty snap by Jon Condo. Could we be watching the Raiders’ kicker of the future while the 39-year-old Janikowski nears his end in Oakland?

“You don’t have to rush him back, that’s for sure,” Raiders’ general manager Reggie McKenzie said Thursday of Janikowski. “Giorgio’s done a great job. He’s really stepped up to the plate and has been kicking well. The need to bring another guy in here is not there, but ‘Seabass’ is moving forward with his progress and I think he will be ready to roll here shortly if needed. Now, right now, there’s no need to rush anything.” Like our Oakland Raiders Facebook page for more Raiders news, commentary and conversation.

Tavecchio is 27 years old and in his first NFL regular season. After cycling through four teams since 2012 in preseason action only, including three stints with the Raiders, he finally found a 53-man roster this year after Janikowski went on injured reserve before the team’s season opener in Tennessee.

He hit his first nine field goals of the year before missing two in a win against the Chiefs, the same game in which he hit the game-winning extra point with no time left on the clock.

The NFL life of a kicker can be more fleeting than that of a position player, with one disastrous week or two potentially spelling doom. Former Tampa Bay kicker Nick Folk missed five field goals combined in Weeks 3 and 4 after making his first four of the season, and he no longer has a job. If Tavecchio were to go on a similar downward spiral, the Raiders certainly would give the prospect of activating Janikowski more attention.

“I feel like I’m very much in the weeds every day, just focusing on what’s in front of me and where my feet are,” Tavecchio said Thursday. “I find that to be helpful and it keeps me very much focused. In that way I’ve lived day-to-day and kind of react to whatever comes my way and just try to do my best to prepare for each game week, each new life that seems to start up after every game, just as a way to do my best to contribute to this team.”

Kicking in the NFL, as Tavecchio of all people knows, is a gift to be treasured. Preseason stints with San Francisco, Green Bay, Detroit and Oakland showed him as much. Not only is the Italian sustaining his 2017 beyond the preseason, he’s going on nine regular-season games substituting for one of the best kickers to ever play the game.

“It’s definitely something special,” Tavecchio said. ” … All that other stuff, I haven’t really thought too much about. All that’s out of my control. All I can say is I’m just grateful for everything.

“All that other stuff” being Janikowski waiting on injured reserve in case Tavecchio hits a rough patch the Raiders aren’t willing to endure. That hasn’t happened yet, and Tavecchio’s most recent field goal was the longest of his season, a 53-yarder at the halftime buzzer against Miami last Sunday. For complete Oakland Raiders coverage follow us on Flipboard.

Tavecchio has seen Janikowski only sparsely in the facility — not as often as he’d like. He said the veteran has urged him to keep doing what he’s been doing. Heading into the bye week, and past that, Tavecchio is trying not to think about whether Janikowski’s presence at team headquarters will become permanent at some point this season.

The two most realistic options for players Oakland can bring back off injured reserve are Janikowski and offensive lineman Denver Kirkland. After activating Obi Melifonwu from IR already, the Raiders can only bring one more player back. If Kirkland is the one, Janikowski’s season, and possibly Raider career, are over. McKenzie said Thursday Kirkland isn’t an option to bring back right now, and neither is Janikowski.

Tavecchio knows his fate is in his own hands: Oakland would have no reason to re-sign Janikowski this offseason if Tavecchio continues producing. But he also knows he can’t take anything for granted.

“In particular with my journey through it all, it seems like you go through the offseason, training camp, preseason, then you get very few chances to showcase,” Tavecchio said. “It’s like you have nine lives, you know like a cat.”

How many of those have you used up?

“I don’t know,” Tavecchio said with a laugh. “That’s what I’m trying to figure out, but I’m trying not to think about it.”