Las Vegas Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak addressed the team's unusual running back usage in their recent win over the New York Jets, stating that Ashton Jeanty remains a crucial part of the team's future.
During the game, rookie Ashton Jeanty, the sixth pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, received only two carries for nine yards, while veteran Mike Washington Jr. handled the bulk of the workload with 25 carries for 83 yards. This disparity raised questions about Jeanty's role.
Kubiak attributed the split to the flow of the game, but when asked if the usage would be week-to-week, he responded, "I do. Yes." Despite Washington's productive outing, Kubiak emphasized that Jeanty is not being sidelined.
"Ashton is still going to be a big part of our team," Kubiak said postgame. "He’s going to be a huge part of our run game going forward."
The article suggests that Jeanty might still be feeling the effects of an ankle sprain he sustained before the season, which could impact his explosive burst, a key attribute that led to him being drafted so high. "There’s healthy enough to walk, jump and cut. Then there’s NFL healthy, which, in Jeanty’s line of work, means planting that foot in the ground and exploding through a hole before a linebacker can close it," the report notes.
Jeanty himself commented on the situation, suggesting a strategic approach. "I’ve been really good in the pass game, and Mike’s been good in the run game," Jeanty said. "So, I think they just wanted to take advantage of what we’re good at." He also expressed a team-first attitude: "We won. It doesn’t matter how I feel about how many times I get the ball. Whatever it takes for the team to win, I just want to win."
Despite the shift in carries, Jeanty also contributed significantly in the passing game, catching a 45-yard pass that set up a Raiders touchdown. The analysis suggests that Kubiak's decisions are strategic, balancing current game needs with the long-term development of his high-profile draft pick. The coach's patience with Jeanty is expected to pay off, as evidenced by his contribution to the win against the Jets.