As a seventh-round draft pick in a crowded receiver group, rookie Marcell Ateman began training camp facing long odds to crack the Raiders’ 53-man roster.

He’s making an early case for consideration.

“He’s farther along” than expected, head coach Jon Gruden said Saturday. “He’s going to get on the field if he keeps playing.”

Ateman, the No. 228 overall pick in April out of Oklahoma State, drew praise last week for two catches on which he used his 6-foot-4 frame to outleap the defensive back. Saturday, Ateman went low to secure a catch over the middle with corner Dexter McDonald draped over his back.

“We had a personnel meeting the other night and everybody’s talking about Ateman,” Gruden said. “We’re going to play the best guys, and right now he’s earning the right to get on the field.”

Ateman posted impressive numbers in his final college season — 59 catches for 1,156 yards and eight touchdowns — but played in the high-scoring Big 12 and did not help his draft stock by running a 4.62-second 40-yard dash at the NFL combine.

Saturday, Ateman said he believes the Raiders’ offense under Gruden is “perfect for me.”

“You move around to different spots,” Ateman said. “At Oklahoma State it was just — one spot, stand there, didn’t move, didn’t go to different places. Now … I’m going to different spots, playing inside, playing outside, just different route combinations. I just feel like it fits my game.”

On one catch last week, quarterback Derek Carr audibled at the line and threw a deep ball for Ateman, who made the play. Ateman said he’s working to build a rapport with Carr.

“I’m always in his ear,” Ateman said. “I just feel like he’s trusting me. Especially when you throw a couple passes and I make plays, that’s all it is. That trust level’s going up.”

Kicker call: The Raiders made official Friday’s decision to waive kicker Giorgio Tavecchio , who had been competing with undrafted rookie Eddy Piñeiro in camp, and sign veteran Mike Nugent .

“I think the young kid (Piñeiro) is really kicking the ball well,” Gruden said. “And it’s hard to get a right-footed kicker and a left-footed kicker and a holder, the operation, tight enough. … I just think two right-(footed) kickers is going to help the operation.”

Piñeiro appears poised to inherit the job, though Gruden said he will compete with Nugent. Gruden said the timing of the move was in part to see if Tavecchio “can catch on with another team.”

“We appreciate Giorgio,” Gruden said. “He’s a pro.”

Injuries: Safety Erik Harris (finger) and right guard Gabe Jackson (undisclosed) are expected to practice Monday after missing the past two days of workouts, Gruden said. The Raiders are off Sunday.

Cornerback Gareon Conley (hip strain) participated in a walk-through Friday, but likely will be out another week at least.

Matt Kawahara is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer.