Ashton Jeanty left Las Vegas Raiders practice Sunday with a lower-body injury after diving for a catch and landing awkwardly. Athletic trainers helped him off the field, and he was unable to put pressure on his right leg.
According to Yahoo Sports, Jeanty was selected sixth overall in the 2025 NFL Draft after a near record-breaking season at Boise State. As a rookie last year, he played all 17 games and ran for 975 yards with five touchdowns on 266 carries, adding 346 receiving yards and five more touchdowns on 55 receptions.
CBS Sports reporter Dave Richard was at the practice and described the scene on the field. "His teammates immediately froze as he lay on the ground. Trainers tended to him, then helped him up and aided him off the field. As he left, the entire team got down on a knee and stayed silent for a while before finishing practice."
The timing is difficult for the Raiders. The team is rebuilding under new head coach Klint Kubiak, and the offense was expected to run through Jeanty. Veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins is set to start the season, while rookie Fernando Mendoza focuses on his development. Las Vegas had been planning to give Jeanty even more touches in his second year.
If Jeanty misses significant time, the Raiders would likely turn to rookie running back Mike Washington Jr., their fourth-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Washington played 12 games at Arkansas and tallied 1,070 rushing yards and 13 total scores. In two preseason games so far, he has rushed for 119 yards on 15 carries.
The other running backs currently on the Raiders roster are Dare Ogunbowale, Dylan Laube and Roman Hemby.
No official diagnosis had been released as of Sunday. CBS Sports noted there is currently both a chance Jeanty plays in Week 1 and a chance he could miss the entire season. The full extent of the injury remains unknown until further evaluation.
The fantasy football implications are significant. Before the injury, Jeanty was being selected 13th overall at Yahoo Sports Fantasy Football and was coming off the board as the RB7. His backup, Washington, carried an average draft position of 128.2, placing him in the 11th round of 12-team leagues. CBS Sports suggested Washington could rise as high as a fifth-round pick or better if Jeanty's injury turns out to be season-ending.
The Raiders have not announced a timeline for Jeanty's return.
