Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty suffered a sprained ankle during practice on Sunday. While the injury is considered low rather than high and avoids long-term concern, his availability for the Week 1 opener against the Dolphins remains in doubt.
Practice Field Incident and Immediate Team Reaction
The session in Las Vegas took a sharp turn when the second-year running back landed awkwardly while diving for a catch thrown by Kirk Cousins during 11-on-11 drills. The resulting fall left the rusher unable to put any weight on his right leg as trainers tended to him and helped him off the field.
Teammates immediately froze as he lay on the ground. As he left, the entire team got down on a knee and stayed silent for a while before finishing practice.
Medical Outlook and Week 1 Uncertainty
According to an ESPN report, Jeanty is believed to have sprained his ankle. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported on The Insiders that Jeanty’s ankle sprain is more low than high,
but not considered to be a major injury.
Rapoport adds it's a real injury
and feels there’s a chance he won’t be available for the season opener.
The Raiders are hopeful Jeanty can suit up for Week 1 against the Dolphins, though the team is far from certain Jeanty will be ready to go. Rapoport noted the Raiders are optimistic that the injury is a more low than high
ankle sprain and not considered a long-term concern. The Raiders are fully confident that Jeanty avoided a significant injury after he was unable to put weight on his right leg while leaving the field Sunday, but the second-year running back is still in danger of missing the team’s Week 1 game against the Dolphins. The Raiders are still unsure how long he will be out, but it is not considered a long-term injury and is not of the season-threatening variety. The Raiders are not saying the second-year back sustained a real-deal high ankle injury, the kind of injury that often leads to an extended absence and significant rehab time.
Rookie Backfield Replacements Step In
With Jeanty sidelined, the coaching staff must adjust preparations. Throughout the day, Jeanty had been splitting reps with rookie running back Mike Washington Jr. It is presumed Washington will begin handling the first-team reps while Jeanty is sidelined. If Jeanty is sidelined for Week 1, Mike Washington, Jr. would likely take over as the team’s lead back and would be locked in as a starter in 12-team fantasy leagues. Rookie Mike Washington would be in line to serve as the Raiders’ lead back if Jeanty ends up sitting out Week 1.
Washington has flashed capability during preseason action. In his first NFL preseason action against the Arizona Cardinals, Washington Jr. ran six times for 63 yards, including a 53-yard run, and he proved that he can be utilized in pass protection and be a weapon in the passing game. He followed that up with another strong performance against the Houston Texans, running nine times for 56 yards and adding two catches for 18 yards. Should Jeanty have to miss any time due to injury, the Raiders seem to have a dependable back to take his place.
The running back with the most rushing yardage on the Raiders roster as of now, besides Jeanty, is Dare Ogunbowale, who holds 594 career rush yards and 850 career receiving yards.
Next Steps on the Practice Field
Jeanty will at the very least sit out Thursday’s preseason finale versus the 49ers. His status for the start of the regular season will be determined by his practice activity (or lack thereof) over the next two weeks.
Jeanty is coming off a quality rookie season in Las Vegas, totaling over 1,300 yards with 10 total scores. Jeanty, 22, spent three seasons at Boise State and was a two-year starter for the program. He finished second in the Heisman Trophy race in 2024 and was a unanimous All-American. The Raiders used the No. 6 overall pick on Jeanty and he signed a four-year, $35,837,732 contract that includes a $22,703,803 signing bonus. The contract includes a fifth-year option for the team to pick up in 2028. In 2025, Jeanty appeared in 17 games for the Raiders and made 17 starts, rushing 266 times for 975 yards (3.7 YPC) and five touchdowns, while also catching 55 passes for 346 yards and five touchdowns.
