Raiders look to turn over return-game spotlight after long TD drought

The Raiders are circling back to a basic, high-impact part of modern roster construction, punt and kick returns. In an early look at who could change the tone of Las Vegas’ return game, the focus centers on Tre Tucker and Dareke Young plus two rookies, Malik Benson and Jonathan Brady, as candidates to contribute for special teams units led by Joe DeCamillis.

Return touchdowns are a small sample, but they carry outsized weight in the way games swing. According to Yahoo Sports’ review, the last time the Raiders produced a kick return touchdown was a long time ago, and the last punt return touchdown also came years back. The article points to Jacoby Ford’s 101-yard kick-return touchdown against the Cleveland Browns on Oct. 11, 2011 and Dwyane Harris’ 99-yard punt return touchdown against the Denver Broncos on Dec. 24, 2018 as the most recent examples.

For DeCamillis’ group, the task is more than simply finding someone who can run. Kick and punt returns require immediate coordination with blockers, calm decision-making in traffic, secure ball skills under pressure, and consistent situational execution so coaches can put returners on the field in the right moments. When a team goes through long stretches without scoring in either category, it usually reflects a combination of personnel fit, coverage quality created by the rest of the special teams unit, and execution in the return lane.

Tucker’s profile in this context is tied to the Raiders’ ability to generate return opportunities and convert them into field-position advantages, then occasionally into touchdowns when seams open. Young, meanwhile, is described as another piece of that return-game rotation, with the article framing multiple roles for players who can handle both the physical demands of return work and the mental demands of reading coverage quickly.

Benson and Brady add a different element. Yahoo Sports’ early look specifically calls out the rookies as options who can make impact, which suggests Las Vegas is not treating return depth as merely an afterthought. Rookies can bring urgency and competition to special teams, and they can also be trained to follow specific return rules, such as where to set up for cutback lanes and how to manage momentum when the coverage collapses.

The historical comparison matters because it sets a clear benchmark for what “working” looks like. A return touchdown is rarely accidental, even when it appears that way on a highlight clip. It is the product of a protection plan, a consistent wedge from blockers, and a returner who can recognize the single best path before the coverage players fully close the gap.

Still, an early offseason assessment has limits. The Raiders will ultimately sort the return jobs through training camp evaluation, preseason reps, and in-game situations, all of which can change who is trusted with the ball at the end of a kickoff or in the immediate aftermath of a punt. Coaches may also adjust roles so that the best all-around specialists are not overtaxed, especially if the team wants returners to contribute on coverage and other special-teams snaps.

What to watch next is whether Las Vegas can turn the offseason competition into a repeatable process on game day. If Tucker, Young, Benson, or Brady earn clear priority in kick and punt return roles, the Raiders will be measuring not only for touchdowns, but also for fewer fair catches, better lanes, and return yardage that consistently pushes opponents backward, even when a score does not happen. That is the foundation that would make a return touchdown feel less like a surprise and more like the next logical outcome.