The Las Vegas Raiders named Dylan Laube a captain for this week's game, putting him among the first two-time captains of the season and signaling that his value has climbed beyond where he sits on the depth chart. For a player whose place on the roster can look fragile from the outside, the vote of confidence said something different inside the building: he has become hard to leave out.
That is why Laube is drawing attention now. Captains are rotated weekly, and Klint Kubiak said they are chosen on the body of work, not reputation. The Raiders also named Ashton Jeanty and Maxx Crosby as captains for this week's game, but Laube's selection stood out because it followed a pattern rather than a one-off gesture. Kubiak said Laube's versatility, work ethic and special teams impact make him valuable, adding that a player who can handle four core special teams units and produce on his own side of the ball has real value in this league.
Kubiak's explanation framed the pick as more than a ceremonial nod. He credited Laube's work ethic, professionalism and character, and said expectations rise as he makes plays. That matters because the role he is carving out is not limited to one phase of the game. The staff views him as someone who can contribute on offense and also carry weight in the return game and on special teams duties that often decide field position and, eventually, games.
The friction is obvious: Laube is still described as being near the end of the depth chart, yet the Raiders keep handing him responsibility that usually goes to players with more secure standing. That is the clearest sign his role is changing. The next question is not whether he has earned trust; it is how far that trust reaches when the Raiders decide where to use him next.
