There were no kickoff returns for touchdowns in the first seven weeks of the 2026 season, but that streak came to an end in the second quarter of the Week 8 game between the Raiders and Jets at MetLife Stadium.
After the Jets scored a touchdown to take a 13-7 lead, Raiders running back Dylan Laube fielded the ensuing kickoff and took it all the way to the end zone. Laube’s 95-yard return gave the Raiders a lead that they’d fumble before recovering in the second half to earn a 38-33 win.
Laube added 49 yards on two other returns later in the game and he was named the AFC special teams player of the week on Wednesday.
Laube is the league leader with an average of 34.1 yards per kickoff return heading into Week 9. He’ll try to hold onto that lead while facing the 49ers this Sunday.