Raiders Are Riding Jeanty, But Is This A Good Idea?

The Las Vegas Raiders are coming off back-to-back losses, and they’re struggling mightily with their running game. These two things are connected, especially since running back Ashton Jeanty has been hobbled with an injury for some time now. 

Jeanty’s injury issues started back on Aug. 23, when Jeanty dove for a pass from quarterback Kirk Cousins and couldn’t get up right away. He had to be assisted by trainers to get off the field, and coach Klint Kubiak made it clear that Jeanty is “playing hurt” in a piece by Sam Warren of The Athletic. 

The running back is also dealing with a foot injury he sustained prior to the loss to the New England Patriots last Sunday. It’s showing in his performance, as Jeanty had just 27 yards on ten carries against the Patriots. 

The Raiders now have a running game that’s in the bottom five in the league after a solid start against the Miami Dolphins in Week 1, and Warren questioned whether the decision to keep playing Jeanty is a good one. 

He’s right to do so. Jeanty’s health is getting a little better, but Warren also noted that this is an injury where more rest might not help. The running back had two weeks off before he returned to practice initially, per the writer, but he didn’t fully recover. 

The Raiders medical staff doesn’t think Jeanty is doing further damage by playing, but the other question is whether he’s doing damage to the team’s fortunes. 

In Jeanty’s defense, the Raiders also have all kinds of blocking issues. This happened last year, and the Raiders couldn’t find a fix, which is part of why Las Vegas hired Kubiak to implement his zone running scheme, which is part and parcel of a Shanahan-based offense. 

Jeanty has still been productive in the passing game after struggling with some early drops, and according to Warren that’s why it’s important to keep him on the field. 

But fans have been clamoring to see more of rookie running back Mike Washington Jr., and Kubiak has stated that he needs to get the rookie more opportunities. But that hasn’t happened, and it’s fair to wonder if this is due to the rookie learning process when it comes to pass protection and blitz pickups. 

There’s another question that’s the elephant in the corner of the room. Jeanty was drafted with the sixth pick in last year’s draft, and it’s also fair to ask if he’s being played in part to justify his draft slot and the money the Raiders are paying him on his big rookie contract.