Klint Kubiak came to Las Vegas with a clear idea of how he wants the Raiders to play, and that vision starts on the ground. The new head coach has never hidden his comfort with a run-heavy approach, and his offenses have reflected that mindset - most notably with the Seattle Seahawks rushing 50% of the time during the 2025 NFL season.
That matters in Las Vegas because the Raiders are expected to lean into the run game in a way fans haven’t seen in years. Drafting Ashton Jeanty was about more than adding a talented back; it was about building an offense that can maximize him and, in Kubiak’s words, help him get to another level. But Jeanty can’t handle every carry, which makes the rest of the backfield a real storyline in camp.
So far, two names have stood out to Kubiak: Mike Washington Jr. and Dylan Laube.
Early training camp reports have been positive on both backs, and Kubiak’s comments after a few practices backed that up. Laube, who has had trouble carving out an offensive role early in his career, has earned praise for his special teams work and for how he’s progressed since OTAs.
"Just another guy that is a solid [special] teams player, that is very bright and has made a solid first impression"
Klint Kubiak on Dylan Laube
Washington Jr. has also made his presence felt. The rookie out of Arkansas rushed for 1,070 yards last season and brings 4.3 speed, giving him the kind of burst that can change a drive in a hurry. Las Vegas used a Day 3 pick on him with the idea that he could grow into a complement for Jeanty.
Kubiak said the rookie is still working through the NFL learning curve, especially when it comes to protection.
“Yeah, Mike is a rookie. A rookie back in the NFL is hard work, especially in the protection game," Kubiak noted.
"So we're giving him a ton of reps there, and just keep him growing. It's a competition with Mike, with [Dylan] Laube, with Chris Collier.”
That competition narrowed on Friday when Chris Collier was waived, leaving Laube and Washington Jr. as the main contenders for the job behind Jeanty. The pads go on Monday, and that should bring a much better read on who can separate in the backfield battle.
For now, Kubiak has seen enough to like the direction of the room.
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