Klint Kubiak - Head Coach, raiders Event: Press Conference | Date: 2026-09-05 | Full transcript (primary source).
Klint Kubiak, Head Coach of the Raiders, addressed the media during a press conference on September 5, 2026. The session followed a preseason game and focused on player evaluations and team progress as the season approached.
Transcript
Kubiak: Obviously, Keyron went down, has an ankle, we'll evaluate him further, but I'll take your questions.
Reporter: Based on what Kirk Cousins did tonight, just how we evaluate his performance on, are you comfortable to officially name him your guy after like three steps, three drives with the first team offense?
Kubiak: I still don't think we need to name anybody. You know, we got a lot of talk about that, a lot of positions. So we wanna watch the film and talk about everything as a staff.
Reporter: And just to follow up on that, what went into the decision to give Kirk and a lot of the projected offense and defensive stars some extended reps tonight?
Kubiak: That was my decision, just one of our guys played together. So I was excited to get him out there together.
Reporter: Clinton, first of all, your first training camp's over now. I'm just curious, what is something that you're leaving this camp with that you think this team is farther ahead than where you thought they would be pleased?
Kubiak: Yeah, well, we have good leadership on both sides of the ball. So with Max, Max has been excellent throughout the way he plays, the way he talks to the team. I think there's leaders that are building on the offensive side of the ball. So, I like where we're at.
Reporter: Coach, do you believe that Mike Washington stepped up in his role with the ones today?
Kubiak: I think he kept playing like he practices. He's been consistent. He's an improving player that he's got a lot of good football ahead of him. And we just gotta keep getting the best out of him every day.
Reporter: What did you make of Fernando's play tonight and just the body of work he put out there during preseason play?
Kubiak: Yeah, overall offensively, we didn't score at all. So we didn't help the team get victories. I think he has a pick, but I think it was a drop ball. We have a couple sacks. So the play that I can do better for him as well.
Reporter: What do you think you learned facing such a pass rush like that?
Kubiak: Well, that's the NFL. And every week it's gonna be that, it's gonna be just like Max. He's practicing against us every day. That's the NFL. So offensively, we gotta find a better way to get points on the board.
Reporter: Jackson Powers Johnson started at right guard and then didn't really play in the second half as he kind of wrapped up the starting right guard role.
Kubiak: No, I wouldn't say that again. We got more decisions to make and Jackson and Caleb have had a great battle and both those guys are gonna play this year.
Reporter: After a game like this, what do you think is the biggest thing that you can take this game to evaluate the team moving forward? What do you look for in the games like this when guys are fighting for jobs?
Kubiak: Yeah, the special teams reps are so important. Those are critical of that overall. Guys did a better job with penalties, played much better technically tonight. But yeah, you're just trying to see those bottom of the roster guys. How much value can they add to your team? So look forward to watching the special teams film.
Reporter: Clint, you had challenged your wide receivers this week to step it up a little bit. From at first glance, do you feel like they did that today or what was your assessment of the wide receivers?
Kubiak: Yeah, we didn't score. So receivers, running backs, tight ends, all around. We gotta find ways to get the ball in the end zone.
Reporter: Hey coach, what words could you say about Matt Gaetz performance and also was it your decision to not have Matsuzawa play today?
Kubiak: Yes, it was, Matt did a great job, four for five, missed a long one. But I was pleased with Matt, pleased with his whole training camp.
Reporter: Hey Clint, over here. When it comes to Fernando and his performance, how important is it for him to have an outing like that in terms of getting his development going?
Kubiak: Yeah, he needs another three preseason games, all those rookies do. And now that the season's starting, that the practice reps get smaller, and that's just life. But us as coaches, we gotta get him ready to play, keep developing him.
Reporter: Clint, what did you make of how the defense performed on third down tonight? Rob Leonard said that that was a focus going into the week.
Kubiak: Yeah, Rob, the whole staff did a great job. The guys played hard. I'm not sure if they converted one in the first half, I don't remember, but defense came out fire and they played a great game.
Reporter: Would you say the extended time I practiced on special teams showed up today?
Kubiak: Again, that was just our end season schedule. So I thought the discipline improved.
Reporter: Clint, can a night like tonight for someone like Fernando that watches the film and internalize it, actually just a rookie preseason be a blessing in his learning curve?
Kubiak: Yeah, it is, it is. It's his reps, it's learning from Kirk's reps, from Aiden's reps. Very valuable for him to get all those reps. I wish he, I'd love to play him the whole game. But there's other guys that we wanna get looked at. And I thought overall this preseason that we got him plenty of time. And I'm happy where he's at, but we just gotta keep pushing him to be better.
Reporter: Clint, we saw Trey Zoom play a little bit at center tonight. You're just wondering, how would you describe his growth playing in at that particular position?
Kubiak: Yeah, how impressive it is for a guy to play tackle, to play center, he could play guard for us. There's a lot of things that he does really well, very versatile player, great teammate, and excited about his future.
Reporter: What do you anticipate these next 68 hours being like for you?
Kubiak: Yeah, it's not gonna be fun, hard decisions. Guys that have been working their tails off with us since April that aren't gonna get to be here, and that's part of the NFL.
Reporter: Will you talk about Trey Zunes mental acumen to literally change, he can change spots from one rep to another, just that ability to process that quickly, please?
Kubiak: I've never been around a guy that can do what he does from rep to rep. So we just gotta keep getting him better physically, but he has a special trade upstairs.
Reporter: Would you say you're proud of that young defense?
Kubiak: Yes, it was a loss, but they didn't let them get into the end zone, and they only let up field goals. Yeah, absolutely, they had us in the game the whole time.
Kubiak: Thanks guys.