Raiders News: Jeanty is “on the Mend”
Las Vegas Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak said Tuesday that he isn’t going to get into the specifics of injuries, but he did offer one encouraging update: running back Ashton Jeanty is “on the mend.”
Jeanty caused a stir among the fantasy football community when he went down during Sunday’s practice, landing awkwardly while diving for a low pass thrown by Kirk Cousins and being unable to put weight on his right leg. His teammates and coaches took a knee and prayed together as they helped him off the field, a moment serious enough that Kubiak later referenced “the power of prayer” when discussing how the team came together afterward.
Fortunately, the injury appears less severe than the initial scene suggested. Multiple reports indicate the Raiders believe Jeanty is dealing with a low-ankle sprain rather than a more serious high-ankle sprain, and the team does not believe it will be a long-term issue. Even ESPN’s Adam Schefter, who initially expressed concern given how the injury looked in real time, later called it a “best case scenario” based on updated information.
Jeanty, the 22-year-old second-year back out of Boise State, enters 2026 off a strong rookie season in which he totaled 1,321 scrimmage yards and 10 touchdowns. The Raiders are optimistic he’ll be able to suit up for the season opener against the Miami Dolphins, though he will not play in Thursday’s preseason finale against the San Francisco 49ers as a precaution.
In the meantime, rookie Mike Washington Jr. has stepped into the void, taking the majority of first-team reps in Jeanty’s absence. Washington has made the most of his own preseason opportunities, totaling 15 carries for 119 yards, including a 53-yard breakaway run against Arizona, numbers that suggest Las Vegas would be in reasonably capable hands if Jeanty were to miss any time.
There’s still a real chance Jeanty carries a questionable tag into Week 1, or plays a limited role even if he is active, and a clearer picture should emerge over the next couple of weeks as his practice participation ramps up. In a worst-case scenario where he’s out entirely for the opener, Washington looks like the clear next man up for a significant share of Las Vegas’s backfield touches.
Despite the injury scare, Jeanty’s talent and the encouraging nature of this update should keep him firmly in the RB2 conversation for fantasy drafts this summer.
