Las Vegas Raiders coach Klint Kubiak and general manager John Spytek are so in sync, they leaned on the same terminology this week describing ailing running back Ashton Jeanty. “On the mend” is the term they used to assess the standout second-year rusher.
That doesn’t mean he won’t play Week 1 against the Miami Dolphins at Allegiant Stadium.
Never one to be wasteful with words, Kubiak acknowledged Wednesday afternoon he’s optimistic Jeanty will be cleared to play Sept. 13 in the season opener. After first relaying the company line he debuted last week when first asked about Jeanty — noting he’s “continuing to improve” but “still on the mend” — he was asked if he’s optimistic he’ll play versus Miami.
“Yes,” he said through a subtle smirk.
Jeanty sustained a sprained right ankle a week ago Sunday during training camp while attempting to catch a pass in the flat thrown by quarterback Kirk Cousins, named the starter by Kubiak this week. The Raiders kneeled in silence and prayer as Jeanty was helped off their indoor practice field without putting weight on his right leg — making for a relatively somber scene.
His diagnosis offered the Raiders relief.
Rookie running back Mike Washington Jr. for the most part manned Jeanty’s post with the first-team offense in subsequent practices open to reporters, blending at his size, speed, power and explosion as he has throughout the course of preseason play. If Jeanty isn’t cleared despite Kubiak’s hope, he’s poised to bear the brunt of the workload as the featured running back in his zone-run scheme.
A fourth-round draft pick, Washington rushed in three preseason games for 168 yards on 23 carries (7.3 yards per rush), bolstered in part by a 53-yard burst in the opener Aug. 13 against the Arizona Cardinals.
“(Kubiak) stood on a table for that kid at the start of Day 3 (of the NFL draft), and this is the perfect scheme fit and we can make this player into a good player,” Spytek said Tuesday during his preseason news conference.
“Mike has certainly had a great preseason. Nobody’s taken that away from him. But it gets very real very fast here now. But I think we’re all excited about the track that Mike is on, and I think we have an expectation that he’s going to help us win football games this year.”
Maybe as the featured running back if Jeanty isn’t yet ready to play. Maybe as a sidekick to the shifty speedster, whom the Raiders could ease into his regular workload. Either way, the Raiders hope Jeanty (266 carries, 975 yards in 2025) can play a role against Miami — be it as a bell-cow or timeshare back.
“Mike (has) had a solid camp. He’s got a big season ahead of him, just like a lot of these rookies that we’re counting on,” Kubiak said.
“Every year in the draft, there’s guys that you’re interested in, and then there’s guys that maybe you’re not, and sometimes the guys you’re not become your best players. That’s the thing about the NFL, which is so great …. So, I’m just looking forward to continue to develop him.”
Contact Sam Gordon at sgordon@reviewjournal.com. Follow @BySamGordon on X.
