October 2, 2026 - 6:41 pm

Las Vegas Raiders special teams coach Joe DeCamillis didn’t hesitate to send Dylan Laube right back out on the field last week against the Saints even after a crucial fumble on a kickoff return that led to the team’s biggest deficit of the season.

“There’s a reason you put him back there in the first place, right?” DeCamillis said. “You have confidence in him. Mistakes are going to be made, and he made a mistake. He owned up to it, and next one he goes out and does his job.”

It’s a trust that Laube appreciates, but also one built on a foundation of work ethic and repetition.

Laube and the Raiders special teams group have done their jobs and done them well over and over from the beginning of OTAs right up through training camp and through the first three weeks of the season.

The metrics suggest they are one of the best special teams units in the league.

“It’s trust,” Laube said in the locker room after Friday’s practice. “I love how this team has each other’s backs. It’s why I think we’re winning games. In the past, we might fold after a mistake. This year, it’s just go out and make the next play. I love how we’re all staying together and how close this team is. And it’s tough to do.

“But I love how that trust doesn’t change even when I mess up such a huge, crucial play. They just say, ‘We’re fine.’ Everyone from coaches and players just got in the huddle and had my back. It keeps your confidence high because you know we all have that trust in each other.”

Laube was back deep on the next kickoff return just three plays later and DeCamillis had him back deep to field the Saints’ next punt as his role continued unchanged.

He’s been a huge part of the group all season long, tied with Tommy Eichenberg and Segun Olubi with an 81.25 percent snap share on special teams this season.

“Dylan has been great for us all year,” receiver Tre Tucker said. “So windshield wipers. Go out for the next play and execute.

“That’s the beautiful thing about this team. We all understand it’s about the body of work far more than just one play. If you make a mistake, but you’ve put in the work and earned the trust, nobody is even going to give it a second thought. You can feel how connected this team is.”

DeCamillis pointed out Laube nearly broke a couple big returns in the season opener. He also said fumbles aren’t always an individual stat because maybe if the play is blocked better or executed better, the big hit doesn’t happen or the blow is lessened.

That lack of finger-pointing is a big part of why the group has so quickly bonded.

Olubi said there are no superstars in the special teams room, and while football facilities can get a bit cliquish with so much separation by position, the special teams room is where players from all over the building come together.

“I think there’s a lot of humility in this group, but also a lot of confidence,” Olubi said. “If you trust each other, there’s no need to dwell on bad things. We talk about next play up all the time to the point it’s a trope in football that we’re all indoctrinated into, but it’s real. It’s a next-play mentality here for sure.”

All three phases contributed the rest of the way as the Raiders rallied for a 35-27 victory.

The end result certainly made it easier for Laube to move on.

“I think as you grow in this league, you realize you are going to mess up,” he said. “It sucks when it happens, but it does happen. Early in my career, I think I would have been super down on myself. But I knew I had to forget because I still had a job to do. I know I have a big role on special teams and they still trusted me to do it.

“So I just said, ‘Let’s go win this game.’”

The Raiders special teams group says the trust has been built through their hard work, a process that continued this week as they prepare for a showdown with the Kansas City Chiefs where special teams figures to play a big role.

Laube has fully put last week in the rearview mirror and will continue to be one of the most important players in the group.

“We’ll be ready,” he said.

Contact Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com. Follow @AdamHillLVRJ on X.