Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty suffered an apparent right leg injury during training camp practice on August 23, 2026, leaving him unable to put weight on his leg and prompting his teammates to take a knee in silence as trainers helped him off the field.
The Las Vegas Raiders faced a severe injury scare just weeks before the regular season when second-year running back Ashton Jeanty went down during a training camp session according to Vincent Bonsignore of the California Post. The incident occurred during team drills when Jeanty landed awkwardly diving for a catch from Kirk Cousins. Teammates immediately froze on the field as medical staff rushed to his side.
Practice Field Reaction and Immediate Aftermath
As trainers helped the young running back off the field without being able to put any weight on his right leg, the entire Raiders team got down on a knee and stayed silent in a moment of collective prayer and concern. The franchise did not immediately release a formal statement regarding the severity of the setback following the Sunday practice session, leaving the status of their premier offensive weapon uncertain as the season opener approaches.
Roster Impact and Running Back Depth
Losing Jeanty for any extended period would deal a heavy blow to a Las Vegas offense that drafted him sixth overall in the 2025 NFL Draft out of Boise State, where he had rushed for 2,601 yards and 29 touchdowns on 374 carries. During his rookie campaign in 2025, Jeanty started all 17 games and recorded 1,321 yards from scrimmage—consisting of 266 carries for 975 yards and five touchdowns, alongside 55 receptions for 346 yards and five more scores. Throughout training camp, he had been splitting reps with rookie running back Mike Washington Jr., whom the team selected in the fourth round of the draft.
Washington has already turned heads in preseason action, including running six times for 63 yards against the Arizona Cardinals—highlighted by a 53-yard run—while also proving capable in pass protection. It is presumed Washington will begin handling the first-team reps while Jeanty is sidelined. The Raiders’ roster also features tailbacks Dylan Laube and Roman Hemby, veteran Dare Ogunbowale, and fullbacks Connor Heyward and Patrick Gurd.
Expectations and Offensive Overhaul for 2026
The potential injury arrives just as Jeanty was expected to make a significant sophomore leap. Following a 3-14 season in which Jeanty averaged 3.7 yards per carry behind an inefficient offensive line, the Raiders brought in first-year head coach Klint Kubiak to overhaul the offensive framework. Earlier in the month, ESPN’s Ryan McFadden reported that Jeanty has looked extremely comfortable in this outside zone scheme
instituted by Kubiak, adding that Jeanty has had multiple explosive runs down the sidelines during practice
and that Kubiak wanted him to be a bell-cow running back.
Reflecting on his rookie struggles prior to the injury, Jeanty emphasized resilience:
“When everything is not going well, continuing to go to work and having hope and faith, I think that’ll carry into this year. Just taking it one week at a time, whether you win or you lose, you’ve got to attack the next game and the next week with the same mindset.”
Ashton Jeanty, Las Vegas Raiders running back
Next Steps for the Las Vegas Backfield
With the regular-season opener against the Miami Dolphins sitting less than three weeks away, the Raiders await official medical updates to determine the exact extent of the leg injury. Throughout the preseason, the team had been cautious with Jeanty, logging just three carries in the preseason opener and holding him out of the team’s second contest alongside the majority of Las Vegas’ starters in a win over the Houston Texans. Should Jeanty miss substantial time, Washington and the remaining running back room will be thrust into major roles as the team prepares for the 2026 campaign.
