Raiders Coach Klint Kubiak Responds to Report About Resting Ashton Jeanty

The Las Vegas Raiders apparently have no plans to rest Ashton Jeanty, despite a report that the team has discussed giving its starting running back time off to recover from injuries.

Coach Klint Kubiak made his intentions clear Wednesday when asked about Jeanty's availability for Sunday's home game against the Buffalo Bills.

"He's playing," Kubiak said, according to Pro Football Talk.

The statement came after ESPN's Dan Graziano reported that the Raiders had internally discussed giving Jeanty a week off at some point because of lingering ankle and foot problems.

According to the report, Jeanty has resisted the idea and wants to continue playing through the injuries.

Kubiak did not directly address whether those discussions had occurred, but he left little doubt about his plans for the second-year running back against Buffalo.

The coach also offered an encouraging update on Jeanty's physical condition.

"He's starting to feel a lot better physically," Kubiak said. "I'm excited about giving him even more reps in practice and more full-speed reps."

That offers some reassurance after last week, when Jeanty's availability against the New England Patriots remained uncertain until shortly before kickoff.

The former Boise State standout has been dealing with an ankle injury since training camp and had a foot problem added to the Raiders' injury report ahead of the Patriots game.

He was a full participant in practice Wednesday, limited Thursday and did not practice Friday.

The uncertainty prompted Las Vegas to elevate rookie running back Roman Hemby from its practice squad as additional insurance.

Jeanty ultimately played in Sunday's loss to New England, but his workload was reduced.

He appeared on 32 of the Raiders' 60 offensive snaps, carrying the ball 10 times for 27 yards and catching three passes for 50 yards.

The 22-year-old has now rushed for 291 yards on 88 carries through five games, an average of 3.3 yards per attempt.

He has also caught 22 passes for 215 yards and two touchdowns.

Jeanty opened the season with 102 rushing yards against Miami but has failed to reach 60 rushing yards in any of the four games since.

His struggles have contributed to the Raiders' difficulty establishing a consistent ground attack.

Before the Patriots game, the team's running game had already become a concern, with Jeanty limited in practice as Las Vegas searched for answers.

Kubiak has acknowledged that some of the problems involve the team's blocking schemes, while Jeanty has accepted responsibility for his own performance.

The Raiders also have rookie Mike Washington Jr. available to help carry the workload.

Washington has shown promise as a complementary option, but Kubiak has made it clear since taking over as coach that he wants Jeanty to play a major role in the offense.

That approach reflects the expectations surrounding the sixth overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.

Jeanty rushed for 975 yards as a rookie despite playing behind an offensive line that struggled to create running room.

Before the season, Jeanty was also identified as a potential breakout candidate for 2026, with expectations that Kubiak's offense and an improved offensive line would help him take another step forward.

The Raiders made changes to their offensive line during the offseason, including the addition of center Tyler Linderbaum, hoping to improve their rushing attack.

But the team's offensive problems have persisted even as Las Vegas opened the season with three consecutive victories.

The Raiders have since lost two straight games, falling to Kansas City and New England.

Sunday's matchup against Buffalo presents another difficult test, particularly with the Raiders trying to regain the offensive consistency that helped fuel their 3-0 start.

For now, however, Kubiak has removed much of the uncertainty surrounding his starting running back.

Rather than planning to sit Jeanty, the Raiders appear prepared to give him more work as he continues recovering from his injuries.