The Las Vegas Raiders are getting ready for their matchup with the Miami Dolphins to kick off the 2026 NFL season. The home opener will be a chance for the Raiders to get off on the right foot in the Klint Kubiak era against another rebuilding opponent.
With Kubiak as the play-caller, the Raiders will utilize a position that wasn’t even on the roster in 2025. Kubiak’s offense requires a fullback, and Connor Heyward is the man who will lead the way at that spot in the backfield, paving lanes for running backs, pass blocking and running routes.
Heyward played with the Pittsburgh Steelers for his first four years in the NFL as a tight end, but never truly found his footing. His career stats are 384 receiving yards and three total touchdowns. He was the third tight end on the roster, and most of his snaps were built for him to be a blocker.
That should change in Las Vegas, especially with Brock Bowers being out in the early part of the season.
Connor Heyward adds a new element to the Raiders offense
When the Raiders signed Heyward in the offseason, they did so with the intention of him playing fullback. The former Steeler had never played this position before, but it can create mismatches coming out of the backfield.
Kubiak values that kind of versatility. He has expressed his excitement about Heyward's outlook and believes that he could bring a lot to the Silver and Black.
“In our scheme, it’s a very versatile player, Guy that plays tight end. That plays fullback. That can pass (protect). That has to be a core-four special teams player. He’s got to be one of the smartest players on your team."
During the preseason, Heyward showed that versatility on the field. His ability to block and catch passes could let Kubiak get really creative. Kubiak coached under the San Francisco 49ers' Kyle Shanahan in 2023, and Shanahan has been a pro at using the fullback effectively.
Look at how Shanahan uses the 49ers' Kyle Juszczyk.
Nobody times up this motion better than Kyle Juszczyk pic.twitter.com/VtbKHG9OeW
— Coach Dan Casey (@CoachDanCasey) September 11, 2026
The 49ers used unique motions against the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday Night Football in Week 1, and Kubiak could add that to the offense. They call it a "cheat motion," which was created by Mike McDaniel, and it could set the blueprint for how the team could use Heyward in 2026.
If Kubiak can duplicate these motions, it can open up the run game while keeping defenses off balance. Plus, as a pass catcher with these different motions, he could find weak spots to attack and exploit defensive schemes, creating one-on-ones for Heyward.
Connor Heyward can attempt to fill the hole that Brock Bowers left in Las Vegas
With Brock Bowers out for a potentially significant amount of time, Heyward could become an even bigger factor in the offense. Not only does he have experience at the tight end position, but Heyward can also take on some of the run-blocking duties or be used as a versatile piece.
Can Heyward do what Bowers can on the field? Absolutely not. But if he's one of the "five best eligibles," as Kubiak commonly talks about, then he can help fill the hole that Bowers left. Having a good pass-catching fullback will help the Raiders disguise the run and pass.
In a bind, Heyward could line up inline, as he did once or twice during the preseason, and he can even line up wide or in the slot, as he's done in the past. It's not like Heyward is replacing Bowers, but his versatility may help Las Vegas mitigate that loss a bit more.
And if he can be a reliable set of hands on checkdowns for Kirk Cousins, or even be a blocker while Mayer is now out running routes, then the Raiders can feel at least a little bit better about not having their all-world tight end.
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