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Can Ashton Jeanty Regain the Lead Back Status for the Raiders?
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- Can Ashton Jeanty Regain the Lead Back Status for the Raiders?
Raiders' head coach Klint Kubiak made a bold decision in Week 8. He gave rookie Mike Washington 25 carries, while Ashton Jeanty was relegated to passing-down duties. The former sixth-overall pick was effectively benched.
Prior to last week's win over the Jets, Jeanty had handled 70.2 percent of the running back carries for the Raiders. Last season, as a rookie, he received 86.6 percent of the running back carries in Las Vegas. After using a high draft pick on Jeanty, the Raiders wanted to make sure he got as much work as he could handle.
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But Jeanty has never been productive as a runner. He averaged just 3.7 yards per carry last season, ranking 44th among 49 qualified rushers. This season has been even worse, as he is at 3.1 yards per carry.
Kubiak decided he had seen enough of Jeanty struggling and gave Washington nearly all of the carries on Sunday. Washington didn't prove to be efficient, as he ran for just 83 yards on those 25 carries. But Jeanty has failed to reach 83 yards in 21 of his 25 career games.
On Wednesday, Kubiak was asked if Jeanty could still be a player that handles 25 carries in a game.
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"Oh, absolutely. Yeah," Kubiak said. "Ashton's a young player and has a really bright future ahead. And I'm so glad that we have him, so glad we have him and all these young players on our roster that are continuing to grow. And it's our job as coaches to develop them."
Kubiak was unlikely to answer that question any other way. But he also affirmed to the media that the touches in the backfield will be a weekly decision, indicating he might simply ride the hot hand.
There is a chance Jeanty can earn his carries back, depending on how he responds to his reduction in touches.
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Dan Graziano of ESPN wrote: "Jeanty hasn't played well while Washington has, and the Raiders hope it serves as a wake-up call. If it doesn't, they're content to distribute the carries in Washington's favor moving forward, as he offers a more explosive element in the run game right now."
Jeanty's lack of explosiveness has been an issue in both seasons. He still doesn't have a 20-yard rush on the season. He only has three games in his career with a 20-yard carry. Washington has already done that twice in eight games, while receiving double-digit carries just once.
Jeanty suffered an ankle injury at the end of training camp. However, he didn't miss any time in the regular season. Interestingly, Graziano also reported that the Raiders are no longer blaming Jeanty's injury for his pathetic production.
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"Earlier this year, the Raiders believed it was a preseason ankle injury that was slowing down Jeanty, and in truth that may have been part of the problem. But he has been healthy enough to play and fully practice every week, so they're at a point where they want to see him play better," Grazianono wrote.
Just 25 games after the Raiders took Jeanty in the top 10 of the NFL Draft, he has already exhausted the patience of the coaching staff. His role will likely change throughout the season based on the performance and health of the entire backfield. But it is clear, he is no longer guaranteed the bulk of carries because of his draft status.
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This story was originally published by Athlon on Nov 4, 2026, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add Athlon as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
