Ashton Jeanty’s frightening exit from Las Vegas Raiders practice immediately produced concern about how much time the second-year running back could miss. Two outside injury analysts believe the range of possibilities includes some outcomes Raiders fans definitely do not want to hear.
Jeff Mueller, Jesse Morse Explain Why Ashton Jeanty’s Injury Looked Concerning
Physical therapist and doctor of physical therapy Jeff Mueller reviewed the reported mechanism of Jeanty’s injury and warned that contact injuries involving the leg can sometimes involve an ACL injury or fracture. Mueller has not examined Jeanty, and the Raiders have not announced a diagnosis.
Jeanty went down late in Sunday’s practice while diving for a pass during 11-on-11 work. He reportedly landed awkwardly and needed help leaving the field without putting weight on his right leg.
Mueller highlighted three details in an X post: Jeanty was diving for a pass, there was contact with a defender, and he could not put weight through the injured leg.
START PREPARING: PFN’s Free Fantasy Draft Simulator
“Praying it’s just a hyperextension or MCL injury non-severe,” Mueller wrote, “but sometimes these contact injuries can be ACL+ or fracture.”
Some key details re: Ashton Jeanty injury:
•diving for a pass
•contact with defender
•could’ve place weight through his legPraying it’s just a hyperextension or MCL injury non-severe, but sometimes these contact injuries can be ACL+ or fracture.. pic.twitter.com/1LEJBDRZcy
— Jeff Mueller, PT, DPT (@jmthrivept) August 23, 2026
That is a list of possibilities, not a medical diagnosis. Mueller was analyzing the mechanism from public reports and video rather than an examination, imaging, or information from the Raiders’ medical staff.
In a second post, Mueller raised a much less severe possibility. He said there was a small chance the defender simply struck Jeanty’s quadriceps or thigh, creating a muscle contusion severe enough to explain why he could not initially bear weight.
“PRAY it’s just that for Ashton Jeanty,” Mueller wrote.
Slimmest chance that the defender simply ran straight into his quad/thigh and it’s just a muscle contusion leading to why he couldn’t put weight through it..
PRAY it’s just that for Ashton Jeanty https://t.co/a5YCIQkQA8
— Jeff Mueller, PT, DPT (@jmthrivept) August 23, 2026
Another doctor, Jesse Morse, gave his analysis on the injury and wrote, “I’ll provide a LIVE update on Ashton Jeanty once we get some reliable concrete information. As of now all we know is that it is a right knee injury and he had trouble putting weight on it. They stopped practice and all the players took a knee and said a prayer for him. Concerning to say the least. Unclear if that will be tonight or tomorrow.”
I’ll provide a LIVE update on Ashton Jeanty once we get some reliable concrete information.
As of now all we know is that it is a right knee injury and he had trouble putting weight on it.
They stopped practice and all the players took a knee and said a prayer for him.…
— Jesse Morse, M.D. (@DrJesseMorse) August 23, 2026
The uncertainty is the key point. The Raiders did not provide an immediate update after practice, and head coach Klint Kubiak is not scheduled to speak with reporters until Tuesday.
BE THE GM OF YOUR FAVORITE TEAM: PFN’s Free NFL Mock Draft Simulator
Raiders Await Official Ashton Jeanty Diagnosis
The scene itself was difficult to ignore. Teammates went silent after Jeanty stayed down, and the entire team eventually took a knee while trainers helped him leave the indoor practice field.
Jeanty enters his second season as the centerpiece of Las Vegas’ backfield after rushing for 975 yards and five touchdowns as a rookie. He added 55 receptions for 346 yards and five more scores.
His production came despite an uneven efficiency profile. Jeanty finished 2025 with a 66.1 PFN RB Impact score, ranking second-worst among qualifying running backs.
If Jeanty misses time, rookie Mike Washington Jr. would be positioned for a much larger role. Washington has already impressed during the preseason, rushing for 63 yards on six carries against Arizona before adding 56 yards on nine attempts against Houston.
For now, every projection has to remain a projection. Mueller explained why the mechanism can be associated with serious injuries, but the Raiders have not said Jeanty tore his ACL, fractured anything, or even provided an official timetable.
Until that changes, the most important update will come from Las Vegas, not from reading the worst possibility into a scary practice scene.
