Jeanty Suffers Scary Practice Injury
The Las Vegas Raiders received a major scare Sunday when second year running back Ashton Jeanty was helped off the practice field after suffering an ankle injury. Jeanty went down while diving for a pass during an 11 on 11 drill and was unable to put weight on his right leg. His teammates immediately gathered around him before the entire team took a knee in support.
The initial scene raised fears that Jeanty could be dealing with a significant knee or leg injury. However, those concerns eased Monday when reports indicated that Jeanty suffered a sprained ankle and that the injury is not expected to be long term.
Week 1 Status Remains Unclear
While the news is considered encouraging, the Raiders still do not know exactly how much time Jeanty could miss. The severity of the sprain will determine his recovery timeline, leaving his availability for the regular season opener against the Miami Dolphins uncertain.
Jeanty is expected to play a major role in Las Vegas’ offense this season after being selected sixth overall in the 2025 NFL Draft. As a rookie, he started all 17 games and rushed for 975 yards and five touchdowns while adding 346 receiving yards and five receiving touchdowns.
Mike Washington Could Step Up
If Jeanty is forced to miss practice time or the season opener, rookie running back Mike Washington Jr. could receive an expanded role. Washington has impressed throughout training camp and the preseason and would likely become the Raiders’ primary option in the backfield while Jeanty recovers.
For now, the Raiders appear to have avoided the worst-case scenario. Jeanty’s injury could still force him to miss valuable preparation time, but the latest reports indicate that it is not a season-threatening issue.
With the regular season approaching, Las Vegas will likely take a cautious approach with its young star. The Raiders’ priority will be making sure Jeanty is fully healthy before putting him back on the field.
