Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty suffered an apparent right leg injury during practice on August 23, 2026, leaving the field without putting weight on his leg as teammates gathered in a moment of silent prayer, raising immediate concerns ahead of the team’s season opener.
An ominous silence fell over Las Vegas Raiders practice on Sunday afternoon when second-year running back Ashton Jeanty went down during team drills. Trainers rushed to his side to assist him off the field, where he was unable to put any pressure on the limb. ESPN’s Ryan McFadden reported that Jeanty suffered the injury when he dove for a catch and landed awkwardly on his right leg during team drills, adding that it looks to be a knee injury for the former No. 6 overall pick.
According to Vincent Bonsignore of the California Post, Ashton Jeanty got hurt in practice today, and could not put pressure on his leg when leaving the field. Following the play, the Raiders gathered as a team to acknowledge the injury with a moment. The severity of the moment rippled instantly through the roster, with the entire team taking a knee and saying a prayer. Neither the franchise nor coaching staff issued an immediate formal statement regarding the exact diagnosis or the expected timeline for recovery.
Offensive Stakes for the Las Vegas Raiders
Losing Jeanty for any extended period presents a severe challenge for a Las Vegas offense scheduled to open its regular season against the Miami Dolphins in less than three weeks. Selected sixth overall in the 2025 NFL Draft, Jeanty emerged as a foundational centerpiece during his rookie campaign, starting all 17 games for the Raiders. Over those 17 contests, he recorded 266 carries for 975 rushing yards and five touchdowns, alongside 55 receptions for 346 yards and five additional scores, finishing his rookie year with 1,321 yards from scrimmage and 10 total touchdowns.
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Expectations for Jeanty’s sophomore leap were exceptionally high following offseason adjustments under first-year head coach Klint Kubiak, who wanted him to be a bell-cow running back. Ryan McFadden reported earlier in the month that Jeanty has looked extremely comfortable in this outside zone scheme instituted by Kubiak, having multiple explosive runs down the sidelines during practice. Throughout training camp, Jeanty had been splitting reps with rookie running back Mike Washington Jr.
Rookie Backfield Depth Behind the Injured Star
Should Jeanty miss regular-season action, it is presumed Washington will begin handling the first-team reps while Jeanty is sidelined. The Raiders added depth to their running back room when they selected Mike Washington Jr. in the fourth round of this year’s draft out of Arkansas. Washington has been one of the pleasant surprises of training camp and the preseason, displaying an impressive combination of size, speed, and explosiveness, and proving that he can be utilized in pass protection and be a weapon in the passing game.
CBS Sports reported that Washington rushed six times for 63 yards—including a 53-yard run—in his first NFL preseason action against the Arizona Cardinals. He followed that up with another strong performance against the Houston Texans, running nine times for 56 yards and adding two catches for 18 yards, bringing his total to 119 yards in two preseason games. Ryan McFadden noted that Washington has shown that he could be a major factor.
has shown that he could be a major factor.
— Ryan McFadden, ESPN
Behind Washington, the Raiders roster also features depth options, though none match the projected offensive workload carried by Jeanty. As medical staff evaluate the extent of the injury, the team awaits definitive diagnostic results to determine whether its primary offensive weapon will be available when the regular season begins.
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