Washington Commanders wide receiver Jaylin Lane. Amber Searls-Imagn Images

Commanders' rookie makes massive play for first career touchdown

By Andrew Wright | Last updated Sep 21, 2025 3:48 PM ET

Everything was coming up great for the Washington Commanders on Sunday. That includes rookie wide receiver Jaylin Lane, who got into the end zone for the first time in his career.

It wasn't at receiver, though, but on special teams. During the third quarter of Washington's game against the Las Vegas Raiders, Lane returned a punt 90 yards to extend the Washington lead to 27-10. It was the Commanders first punt return for a touchdown since Week 5 of the 2016 season.

WELCOME TO THE BIG LEAGUES, @j_lane_2!!!

#LVvsWAS FOX pic.twitter.com/YvgnhQrGN0
— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) September 21, 2025

Lane, a rookie out of Virginia Tech, has handled the punt return duties for Washington all season. He entered Sunday's game with five punt returns for 50 yards but has now added five more for 127 yards and a touchdown.

The good special teams' game from Lane comes on the same day that Deebo Samuel returned two kickoffs for a total of 93 yards. It was an all-around good day in the return game for the Commanders.

Lane's emergence as a threat in the punt return games gives an already stellar Washington team another threat to score at any point during the game.

Andrew Wright

Andrew "Dew" Wright graduated from Charleston Southern University with a degree in Communication Studies. He is a lifelong Chicago Cubs and Washington Commanders fan.

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