Raiders’ Ashton Jeanty Helped Off Field With Apparent Leg Injury
Ashton Jeanty was helped off the field during Sunday's Raiders practice after an apparent right leg injury, leaving Las Vegas bracing for an update on its star running back.
The Las Vegas Raiders suffered a gut-punch during Sunday’s practice when star running back Ashton Jeanty went down with an apparent right leg injury and had to be helped off the field, unable to put any weight on it. The moment was serious enough that the entire team took a knee and shared a moment of silence as trainers tended to their second-year back.
Jeanty, the No. 6 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft out of Boise State, was in the middle of a team period drill when he dove to catch a low throw from quarterback Kirk Cousins and landed awkwardly on the turf. He remained down for an extended stretch before being helped off by the training staff, and the Raiders have not yet disclosed the severity of the injury.
How the Injury Unfolded
According to reporters on the scene at the Raiders’ Henderson, Nevada practice facility, Jeanty was stretching to make a catch when he hit the ground awkwardly on his right leg. He could not put pressure on it as trainers assisted him off the field, and he did not return for the remainder of Sunday’s session. Coach Klint Kubiak is not scheduled to address the media until Tuesday, leaving fans and fantasy managers alike anxiously awaiting an update on the exact diagnosis.
The timing is especially unfortunate, coming just days before the Raiders wrap up their preseason slate against the San Francisco 49ers. Jeanty had already been held out of the team’s most recent exhibition win over Houston as a precaution, with Kubiak resting several starters, including Cousins, Maxx Crosby and Brock Bowers, ahead of the regular season. Rookie Mike Washington Jr. took over the bulk of first-team reps once Jeanty exited Sunday, having already impressed coaches throughout camp with a strong summer.
What Jeanty Means to Las Vegas
Jeanty enters his second season as the unquestioned centerpiece of the Raiders’ offense after signing a four-year, $35.9 million rookie contract in 2025. He delivered immediately, racking up 975 rushing yards and five touchdowns on 266 carries as a rookie, while adding 55 receptions for 346 yards and five more scores through the air across 17 games. His 1,321 yards from scrimmage made him one of the most productive first-year backs in the league and a foundational piece for new head coach Kubiak’s offensive vision heading into 2026.
That production has also made Jeanty a popular name in fantasy sports circles this preseason, with plenty of managers targeting him as a workhorse back given his dual-threat ability out of the backfield. Any extended absence would be a significant blow not just to Las Vegas’ offensive game plan, but to the fantasy value teams have built around him heading into Week 1 against Miami.
What Comes Next
The Raiders have not released an official statement on the nature or severity of Jeanty’s injury, and the lack of communication has only fueled speculation among fans and analysts bracing for bad news. Should Jeanty require an extended absence, the load would shift to Washington, who has already shown flashes with long runs in each of the Raiders’ last two preseason games.
Las Vegas opens the regular season with plenty riding on its backfield health, and this injury adds a fresh layer of uncertainty just as the roster begins to take shape. Updates are expected as soon as Kubiak speaks with reporters on Tuesday, and the organization’s approach to Jeanty’s workload the rest of this preseason and into the regular season will likely hinge on what that evaluation reveals.