Now that the dust from the 53-man roster shuffle is settled and the Las Vegas Raiders preparing for their Week 1 season and home-opener, it’s ample time to revisit the team’s long-dormant return game.
With the Silver & Black knee-deep in training camp and preparing for a trio of preseason clashes, I dove into the Raiders’ kickoff and punt return units as special teams boss Joe DeCamillis navigated through the 90-man roster to identify talent to man the two specialized roles. Midway through August,
wide receivers Tre Tucker and rookie Malik Benson were getting looks for the respective gigs, in practices.
But when it came to the preseason clashes, the reps were dominated by late free-agent addition Deven Thompkins. The 26-year-old wide receiver was a July 27 add — alongside Patrick Johnson — and the diminutive (5-foot-8 and 155-pound) but speedy (4.35-second 40-yard dash time at Utah State’s Pro Day) wideout fielded seven kickoffs for 198 total return yards (28.3 yards per return average) with a long of 33 yards. He also returned four punts for 25 yards (6.3 yards per return average) with a long of 12 yards.
When cutdown day arrived on Sunday, Aug. 30, however, Thompkins was waived before being signed to the practice squad the following day. While there’s a distinct possibility Thompkins is a call-up from the taxi squad during the regular season, his roster availability creates redundancy which is a good thing over the course of the 17-game regular season that can be grueling.
That said, let’s take a look at the Raiders on the 53-man roster who not only have experience as NFL return men, but are likely to be the choice for DeCamillis as Las Vegas embarks on the initial season under rookie head coach Klint Kubiak.
The Incumbents
As the Raiders embarked on preseason contests, they were mandated by the NFL to produce depth charts. While there were some spots already set in stone — such as elite punter AJ Cole III being the starting punter (especially without anyone competing with him) — the starting kick and punt returner was Tucker. Running back Dylan Laube was listed as the second-team kick return man while rookie cornerback Jermod McCoy was second-team punt returner.
We’ll focus on the veterans Tucker and Laube for this portion, though.
Let’s start with the wide receiver. I’ve written about this before, but I’ll reiterate: During his collegiate career at Cincinnati, Tucker was a prolific Bearcats’ kickoff return man amassing 67 total returns for 1,670 yards and two touchdowns; season high in 2021 with 22 returns for 557 yards and a score. Because of that production and usage, it was a logical assumption when the Raiders made the wideout their third-round pick (100th overall) in the 2023 NFL Draft, Tucker would get his fair share of opportunities to do that job in Las Vegas.
No dice.
In his three seasons in the league, Tucker’s career count reads: One kick return for 23 yards, and that lone statistical mark is from last season. This is largely due to the Silver & Black’s wide receiver room dwindling in name talent since Tucker was drafted meaning he was often precluded from special teams play because of his importance to the offense (Tucker’s total snap counts read: 2,260 on offense to just 104 on special teams in his initial three seasons in the NFL). Las Vegas wide receiver group is still questionable at best, so despite being listed as the top return man in preseason, Week 1 and beyond most likely will have another Raider manning the duties.
This brings us to Laube, a reserve running back taken in the sixth round of the 2024 draft (208th overall) that’s been cutting his teeth on special teams his first two season in the league (318 special teams snaps to just 29 offensive snaps). The 26-year-old tailback paced the Raiders with 33 kick returns for 855 yards (25.9 yards per return average) with a long of 38.
The Noobs
That term above isn’t just for players new to the NFL, but also to the Silver & Black.
Dareke Young, who reunites with Kubiak after the wide receiver/special teamer spent his four seasons with the Seattle Seahawks, made the most of his limited opportunities as a kick return man in the Pacific Northwest with 10 returns for 322 yards (32.2 yards per return average) with a long of 60 yards. While he’s been an adept gunner on coverage units, standing 6-foot-2 and 224 pounds, he’s a blend of physicality and speed that can provide more of an imposing presence as a return man.
Let’s get back to Benson. A rookie riser for much of the offseason, the 6-foot-1 and 195-pound sixth-round pick (195th overall) from the most recent draft brings much-needed electricity and explosiveness — on both offense and special teams. The 23-year-old wideout did well with his opportunities as Oregon’s punt returner last season with nine returns for 161 yards and a score — an 85-yarder against USC.
McCoy, on the other hand, was getting reps as a punt returner in training camp and did field six of them at Tennessee in 2024 for 59 yards (9.8 yards per return average). The fourth-round selection (101st overall) in the 2026 draft is still getting back to health and confidence he showcased before a knee injury sidelined him for the 2025 season.
Thompkins isn’t the only practice squad member who has experience as a return man. Running backs Dare Ogunbowale and undrafted rookie Roman Hemby have fielded kickoffs.
The veteran Ogunbowale has 22 kick returns for 424 yards under his belt, but the 32-year-old hasn’t returned a kick since the 2024 season (one for 12 yards). Hemby, on the other hand, had nine returns for 203 yards at Indiana in 2025 and in preseason action, the 24-year-old returned four kickoffs for 105 yards.
Horizon
The assumption here is Tucker’s role on offense means shielding him from potential bit hits and injury as a return man. Which facilitates to Laube and/or Benson getting primary looks. McCoy will likely figure in as a punt returner but ensuring the promising prospect remains healthy for a defense looking to establish an identity under defensive coordinator Rob Leonard can put him in a similar category to Tucker on offense.
But don’t be surprised to see Thompkins yo-yoing from practice squad to active roster as the season progresses.
