The Falcons signed Giorgio Tavecchio to fill-in while kicker Matt Bryant recovers from a strained hamstring on Tuesday.
Tavecchio was originally signed on Aug. 27 to kick for the final exhibition game as the team sat Bryant and punter Matt Bosher.
Falcons coach Dan Quinn said Bryant has a strained hamstring and will miss the next game on Monday against the Giants.
The Falcons made calls to several agents of free agent kickers before a final decision.
Tavecchio didn’t get a field goal attempt in the 34-7 loss to the Dolphins in the exhibition season, but made his only extra point attempt.
“There are a couple guys that we are talking to and he’s certainly one of them,” Quinn said on Monday of Tavecchio. “Coming in, part of the reason why we are bringing some guys in is for contingency planning.”
The Falcons were high on Tavecchio.
“The leg strength, he was also a kickoff man and the accuracy that he had,” Quinn said. “He was somebody that we definitely had on our radar. At each position you have a few guys that you would reach out to if those situations came up.”
Tavecchio was signed on the Raiders active roster last season following the injury to Sebastian Janikowski. He appeared in all 16 games and converted 16 of his 21 field goal attempts, including making 3 of 4 from 50-plus yards.
Tavecchio, from Italy, started his NFL career with the 49ers in 2012 after a four-year collegiate career at California. He has also spent time with the Packers and Lions.
Bryant left Sunday's game after making a key 57-yard field goal in the 34-29 win over the Bucs. The replays of the kick appear to show distinct muscle movement in Bryant's kicking leg.
Bryant, 43, was dejected in the locker room after the game.
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