Dylan Laube is earning the Las Vegas Raiders‘ trust, but a growing role could force an interesting decision on punt returns.
Raiders special teams coordinator Joe DeCamillis said on Friday that running back Dylan Laube will serve as a captain this week after an excellent Week 1 performance against Miami. DeCamillis credited Laube for his work in the return game and called him very productive in coverage as well.
Laube did not handle every punt return, though. Malik Benson also worked back there, and DeCamillis said Laube was used in what he described as a “defense stay” situation. The coordinator cautioned that this “may not be the case every single week” and said the Raiders will evaluate it week to week. That makes the arrangement situational rather than a permanent platoon.
A captaincy from the special teams staff tells you how the Raiders view Laube’s role. He’s being valued as a multi-phase contributor, returning punts and helping in coverage, and that kind of versatility is what keeps a running back on a 53-man roster. Nothing in the presser addresses contracts or cap figures, so this is a roster-value story rather than a financial one. However, teams require cost-effective depth players who can contribute across special teams units to complete the back end of their roster.
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What are the Raiders planning with Dylan Laube?
On the depth chart, the punt return spot is a split rather than a settled job. DeCamillis said Laube has taken more reps in that area of the field than Benson. That explains why Laube gets the nod in specific situations, while Benson has earned praise for his decision-making.
DeCamillis also pointed to the Rams’ Super Bowl season as a precedent for starting with a committee. Cooper Kupp shared the return duties before the Rams found a full-time returner they trusted in 2022. DeCamillis acknowledged that rotating returners can offer a schematic edge and said that could factor in down the road.
In short, the punt return job is Laube’s in some situations, while remaining open in others. Expect Laube to stay the top choice in defense-stay situations while Benson gets more reps, with the job likely consolidating around whichever returner proves safest as the season goes on.
Should the Raiders commit to Laube as their full-time punt returner, or is the situational split the smarter play? Let us know in the comments.
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