Yahoo Sports NFL on Mike Washington Jr.

ArticleWill Klint Kubiak finally unleash Mike Washington Jr?October 14, 2026

From the article

Klint Kubiak said Dylan Laube's uptick in usage is due to his ability to pass protect, saying the running back is a "reliable" player.

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Pass-protection concerns may explain Washington's benching despite gap-scheme fit.

Washington's reduced role against New England may stem from pass-protection concerns. Head coach Klint Kubiak complimented Dylan Laube for his pass-protection abilities and reliability, implying Washington may have pass-blocking deficiencies. The Raiders employed 7-man protection (max-protect) during passing attempts, which would explain why Washington's role was phased out in-game despite the team running gap/power schemes on 38% of their runs—their highest rate all season.