The Las Vegas Raiders entered Sunday with one of the NFL’s more intriguing young backfields. They left practice waiting for an update on the player at the center of it.
Ashton Jeanty suffered an apparent right leg injury during 11-on-11 work and needed assistance leaving the field. Until Las Vegas provides more information, the severity remains unknown, but the scene was concerning enough to put immediate attention on rookie Mike Washington Jr. and the rest of the Raiders’ running back room.
What Happened to Ashton Jeanty?
Jeanty went down late in Sunday’s practice, “diving for a catch and landed awkwardly,” according to ESPN’s Ryan McFadden. He remained on the ground as trainers attended to him before he was helped off without putting weight on his right leg.
Reporters at practice described the mood as unusually quiet. The team gathered on one knee while Jeanty was being helped away, and then eventually finished the session.
The important distinction is that Las Vegas has not announced an official diagnosis. Calling it a knee injury, projecting a timetable, or speculating about structural damage would go beyond what the Raiders have confirmed.
#Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty left practice early after suffering an apparent knee injury.
During the team period, he was diving for a catch and landed awkwardly. He was helped off the field by trainers and couldn’t put any pressure on his right leg.
Entire team took a…
— Ryan McFadden (@ryanmcfadden_) August 23, 2026
Jeanty is expected to be one of the centerpieces of Klint Kubiak’s offense after leading all rookies with 975 rushing yards and 1,321 scrimmage yards in 2025. His 66.1 PFN RB Impact score ranked 54th among NFL running backs, but Las Vegas spent the offseason improving the offensive line and building a scheme designed to give him cleaner opportunities.
If Jeanty misses meaningful time, that plan would have to change quickly.
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Raiders RB Depth Chart Puts Mike Washington Jr. in Spotlight
The Raiders’ latest unofficial depth chart lists Jeanty first, Washington second, Dylan Laube third, with Roman Hemby and Dare Ogunbowale behind them.
Washington has already made a strong case to be more than a change-of-pace option. The fourth-round rookie followed 63 rushing yards on six carries against Arizona with 56 yards on nine attempts against Houston. He also caught two passes for 18 yards in the second preseason game.
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Kubiak praised Washington after the Raiders’ joint practice with Houston, saying the rookie had shown the same ability in practice that later appeared in games and that the staff wanted to keep “putting more on his shoulders.”
That workload could grow much faster than expected.
Washington brings legitimate physical traits at 6-foot-1 and 223 pounds, with a 4.33-second 40-yard dash. He rushed for 1,070 yards and 8 touchdowns at Arkansas last season while earning an 88.2 PFN CFB RB Impact grade, ranking 10th at his position.
Laube would also become more important, particularly because of his experience and special teams value, while Ogunbowale offers a veteran passing-down option.
None of those players can simply replace everything Jeanty was supposed to provide. Washington, however, has spent August making the possibility of a larger role look considerably less daunting.
Now Las Vegas waits to learn whether that role will remain complementary or become something much bigger.
