Raiders will get an extra leg up tonight

The Raiders are expected to sign free-agent kicker Aaron Elling today, a league source confirmed Thursday night. Elling will fill in for Raiders kicker Sebastian Janikowski in tonight's exhibition-season opener against the 49ers at The Coliseum. Janikowski "tweaked" his left kicking leg during two-a-days Wednesday, Raiders coach Lane Kiffin said, and is doubtful for the game. Elling must pass a physical before the deal is done. The Raiders didn't have another kicker on the roster, opting to use a JUGS machine to give Janikowski rest during practice. Elling, left-footed, can also punt. That will allow him to spell Pro Bowl punter Shane Lechler, who sits out most camp practices and retreats to the fieldhouse for conditioning work. Elling, 30, got training camp gigs in Atlanta, Jacksonville and Cincinnati last year before tearing right-knee ligaments making a preseason tackle with the Bengals. He's bounced between eight teams since 2002, and scored 102 points in his second season with the Vikings. Briefly: The television lineup gets a little complicated because the Raiders and 49ers run on different stations. The Raiders' broadcast will show on Channel 36 at 10 p.m. today and 7 p.m. Saturday. The 49ers' broadcast will be live on Sacramento's Channel 13 and Monterey's Channel 46, but taped on Channel 5 at 11:35 p.m. ... Don't look for Raiders running back Darren McFadden to return kicks - at least not yet. Tyvon Branch will handle kickoffs and Johnnie Lee Higgins will take punts.