It would appear as though the worst case scenario has been avoided for Las Vegas running back Ashton Jeanty, as the 2nd year back is reportedly dealing with a sprained ankle.
Raiders fans feared the worst when Jeanty had to be helped off the field on Sunday after landing awkwardly at practice. After remaining on the ground for an extended period, the 22 year old didn’t appear to be able to put any weight on his right leg as he was helped back to the training room. His Raiders teammates subsequently took a knee and had a brief prayer circle, leading many to believe that the injury could be a season ender.
Fortunately, it appears as though it is the back’ ankle and not his knee as initially feared, which will likely sideline him for the rest of the preseason, but isn’t viewed as a long term issue within the organization.
In his absence, rookie back Mike Washington Jr. took the first team reps with the offence, and figures to get an extended look for the duration of training camp.
Originally selected 6th overall by the Raiders in 2025, Jeanty posted 975 rushing yards and 5 TDs on the ground in his rookie campaign. He’s expected to take a massive leap forward in year 2 under new head coach Klint Kubiak who has previously expressed a desire to establish a strong run game which would be complimented by their passing offence.
While Las Vegas has yet to publicly comment on Jeanty’s status, Raiders fans are likely breathing a sigh of relief on Monday knowing that their star sophomore won’t be out for the year. That being said, if the former Boise State standout is dealing with the dreaded high-ankle sprain, that could be an injury which limits his effectiveness at least in the early part of the season.
Should Jeanty be unable to suit up for Week 1 vs. the Dolphins, the club would turn to either Washington, Dylan Laube, Roman Hemby, or Dare Ogunbowale to handle touches in his absence.
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