Practice Incident
Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty was helped off the practice field on Sunday after suffering an apparent right leg injury. The incident occurred during the team period when Jeanty dove to catch a low pass from quarterback Kirk Cousins and landed awkwardly. He stayed on the ground before being attended to by trainers and could not put any weight on his right leg as he was helped off the field, as reported by multiple outlets including Fox News, ABC7 Los Angeles, and CBS Sports.
The reaction from teammates was notable. Multiple reports describe the indoor practice facility going silent, with the entire team taking a knee and praying after Jeanty left the field. ESPN's Ryan McFadden reported that the team took a knee and said a prayer, a detail echoed by CBS Sports and other outlets, which described teammates freezing and staying silent.
Team's Response
The Raiders have not provided an official statement on Jeanty's injury. Coach Klint Kubiak is not scheduled to address reporters until Tuesday, as noted by several outlets including the Baltimore Sun and Dallas Morning News. The team declined comment, and an update did not immediately appear after practice, according to sources.
Later on Sunday, ESPN's Adam Schefter and NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported, citing sources, that Jeanty is believed to have sprained his ankle. The reports indicate that the Raiders are unsure how much time he will miss but do not consider it a long-term injury. This update has been characterized as a relief to the organization, with Schefter quoted as saying the organization is breathing a sigh of relief, per Sports Illustrated.
Background and Season Outlook
Jeanty, selected sixth overall in the 2025 NFL Draft out of Boise State, started all 17 games as a rookie. He rushed for 975 yards and five touchdowns on 266 carries, and also had 55 catches for 346 receiving yards and five receiving touchdowns, according to multiple sources. Reports citing NFL.com data noted that a high percentage of his rushing yardage came after contact, with just 112 yards before contact last season, as mentioned by Heavy.
Jeanty appeared briefly in the preseason opener against the Arizona Cardinals, carrying three times for 16 yards, and did not play in the second preseason game against the Houston Texans, with the team trying to preserve him for the regular season, as reported by the Baltimore Sun and other outlets.
Next in Line
Rookie Mike Washington Jr. took the first-team reps for the remainder of practice after the injury. Washington, who has had a strong training camp, had been splitting the first-team reps with Jeanty even before the incident, according to multiple reports. He has 15 carries for 119 yards in the preseason, with runs of 63 yards on six carries against the Cardinals and nine carries for 56 yards against the Texans.
Should Jeanty miss time, Washington is seen as the next man up. The team also lists Dylan Laube, Roman Hemby, and Dare Ogunbowale as other running back depth options. Washington's emergence is seen as a promising insurance policy, with some observers noting his skill as a runner. The Raiders conclude their preseason schedule by hosting the San Francisco 49ers on Thursday night, before opening the regular season against the Miami Dolphins on September 13.
Injury Speculation
In the absence of an official diagnosis initially, some external commentary speculated on potential injuries. Dr. Jesse Morse, a health expert, offered a range of possible non-season-ending knee injury possibilities and suggested that a best-case scenario would sideline him for a couple of weeks, but that was presented as a theoretical based on the limited information available at the time.