The 2025 season has not gone according to plan for the Las Vegas Raiders. Despite significant offseason changes, including drafting star running back Ashton Jeanty with the sixth overall pick, the team has struggled to find consistency. Those frustrations peaked late Sunday against the Cleveland Browns when their rookie playmaker left the game with an injury.
Now, fans are left wondering if their first-round pick will be available for the next divisional clash.
What Did Pete Carroll Say About Ashton Jeanty’s Status?
Given the offensive line issues, Jeanty has had a tough time replicating his college production on the ground. However, losing him would be a massive blow to an offense desperate for playmakers.
Fortunately for Las Vegas, the initial updates sound promising. According to Field Yates, head coach Pete Carroll downplayed the severity when asked if the ankle issue would limit Jeanty in practice.
“I haven’t heard that it would yet,” Carroll said. “It sounds like there’s a chance that he’ll be ok.”
Raiders HC Pete Carroll says that he believes RB Ashton Jeanty’s late-game ankle injury is not severe.
When asked if there is a chance the injury would limit him in practice this week, he said “I haven’t heard that it would yet. It sounds like there’s a chance that he’ll be ok.”
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) November 24, 2025
The Raiders need him healthy. Even without huge rushing numbers, Jeanty has been vital through the air. PFSN’s RB Impact Metric currently lists him seventh in targets among all running backs.
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Based on Carroll’s comments, the rookie might avoid missing practice time this week. However, nothing is guaranteed until he actually takes the field. There is still a possibility he sits out Week 13 despite the coach’s positive outlook.
If the rookie is unable to play, Las Vegas has three other running backs on the roster: Raheem Mostert, Dylan Laube, and Zamir White. Mostert has been efficient with his limited touches, showing good averages on low snap counts. The other options haven’t been as fortunate, struggling to produce behind the current offensive line. Without Jeanty, the offense lacks proven alternatives to fill that void.
Playing without their top back would leave Las Vegas short-handed against a formidable division rival. The upcoming opponent, the Los Angeles Chargers, ranks 11th overall in PFSN’s Defensive Impact Metric. That is a tough challenge for a full-strength squad, let alone one missing its top rookie.
If Carroll’s optimism turns out to be well-founded, the Raiders will have a much better shot at cracking that Chargers defense.
