National Football League

Raiders WR Rod Streater chases 1,000-yard season

Published Dec. 11, 2013 11:25 p.m. ET

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When Rod Streater arrived in Oakland in the spring of 2012 as an undrafted and unheralded receiver out of Temple, his focus was on the smallest of goals rather than something as noteworthy as a 1,000-yard receiving season.

With three games left in his second season in the NFL, Streater is closing in on that mark and has a chance to become the first Raiders receiver to gain that many yards in a season since Randy Moss in 2005.

Streater needs to average just 71 yards receiving a game over the final three weeks, a mark he was reached three times in four games with Matt McGloin as Oakland's starting quarterback.

''Coming in, it was just making the team,'' Streater said. ''Getting a jersey, that's all I wanted. Now you have to continue to set the bar high. Now that I'm here I want to keep going up.''

After spending much of the offseason working out and building chemistry with Terrelle Pryor, Streater has clicked almost immediately with McGloin since he took over as starter. Streater has 21 catches for 364 yards and two touchdowns the past four weeks, and set career bests with seven catches for 130 yards in last week's loss to the New York Jets.

''He's going to be in the right spot all the time,'' McGloin said. ''He knows what he's doing. He shows up every day, works hard, goes about his business. I can trust him. I can throw him opportunity balls and there's a 50-50 chance he'll come down with it.''

According to footballperspective.com, the Raiders are tied with Jacksonville for the longest active streaks for seasons without a 1,000-yard receiver. The closest any Raiders receiver has come in that span is Darrius Heyward-Bey, who had 975 yards receiving in 2011.

Streater's 787 yards are the second most for any Oakland wideout since 2005, with only tight ends Brandon Myers (806 in 2012) and Zach Miller (805 in 2009) topping his current total.

''There's something about that number you want to get to as a receiver to be considered one of the good ones for the year,'' Streater said. ''That's what I'm reaching for and also to get these last three wins.''

Streater played defensive back and receiver for two years in junior college at Alfred State before transferring to Temple. The Owls weren't much of a throwing team and Streater had just 49 catches in two seasons there, including only 19 his senior season.

That was a big reason why he never expected to have a chance in the NFL. But he decided he would keep working out anyway after his final college season and impressed scouts at his pro day.

Despite not being drafted in April, Streater was targeted immediately by Oakland and signed as an undrafted free agent. He made a quick impression at a rookie minicamp and has kept up the strong performance ever since.

He now has a chance to become the 19th undrafted player since the 1970 merger to reach 1,000 yards receiving in a single season.

''He's done a good job for us,'' coach Dennis Allen said. ''He's been very consistent and that's what we've come to expect out of Rod, especially coming in being an undrafted free agent, making his way into the starting lineup. He's been a consistent player for us.''

NOTES: WR Denarius Moore returned to practice for the first time since injuring his shoulder against Houston. His status for this week is up in the air. ... RB Darren McFadden is still sidelined by an ankle injury that forced him to miss last week's game. ... RB Jeremy Stewart (ankle, knee) and DL Vance Walker (concussion) also did not practice. ... The Raiders have added LB Eric Harper and WR Jared Green to the practice squad. Green is the son of Hall of Fame CB Darrell Green.

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AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org