Raiders RB Ashton Jeanty exits practice with apparent right knee injury

The Las Vegas Raiders entered the 2026 season with a clear tactical mandate: establish a run-Heavy offensive identity under first-time head coach Klint Kubiak. That plan now faces a critical test after the centerpiece of the attack, running back Ashton Jeanty, was unable to put weight on his right leg following an injury during Sunday's training camp practice.

The incident occurred during a team period when Jeanty dove for a low pass thrown by quarterback Kirk Cousins. According to TSN, Jeanty landed awkwardly on the turf grass and remained on the ground before athletic trainers helped him off the field. The sight of the former No. 6 overall pick unable to put pressure on his leg prompted his teammates to take a knee in prayer.

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While the team has not provided a formal diagnosis or a timetable for return, reporters on the scene including Vincent Bonsignore have described the issue as an apparent right knee injury, according to Heavy.com.

During his rookie campaign in 2025, Jeanty recorded 1,321 scrimmage yards and 10 touchdowns. While his raw rushing totals — 975 yards on 266 carries — were respectable, the underlying data revealed a player with elite ability to create yardage when the initial play broke down.

According to Next Gen Stats cited by Nfl, Jeanty produced only 112 rushing yards before contact, the second-fewest among backs with at least 200 carries. Instead, 88.5% of his rushing yardage came after contact, complemented by 71 forced missed tackles, which tied for the fourth-most in the league.

With Jeanty sidelined, the Raiders must turn to a depth chart that lacks a proven equivalent of his contact-balance. The primary beneficiary is rookie Mike Washington Jr., who took over the first-team repetitions for the remainder of Sunday's practice. Washington has been alternating starting reps with Jeanty throughout camp and showed promise in a preseason win over the Houston Texans, where he rushed nine times for 56 yards and caught two passes for 18 yards, as reported by The Fantasy Footballers.

The remaining options for the Raiders include:

• Dylan Laube: Depth running back.
• Roman Hemby: Undrafted rookie.
• Dare Ogunbowale: Veteran presence.
• Connor Heyward and Patrick Gurd: Fullbacks.

The timing of the injury disrupts a carefully managed preseason ramp-up. Jeanty played in the opener against the Arizona Cardinals but rested during the Thursday win over the Texans. He was expected to be a focal point of the offense as the Raiders rebuilt portions of their offensive line to support the new scheme. Jeanty had expressed during training camp that he believed he needed to make a big jump in his second year to mirror the dominance he displayed at Boise State.

In 2024, Jeanty rushed for 2,601 yards, finishing just 27 yards shy of Barry Sanders’ FBS single-season record, and set an FBS record with 14 games of 100 or more rushing yards.

Now, the Raiders face a compressed timeline. The team has one remaining preseason game against the San Francisco 49ers on August 27 before the regular season begins.

The urgency centers on the September 13 opener against the Miami Dolphins, for which Jeanty's availability remains uncertain.

Impact on Depth and Roster Continuity

The injury to Jeanty creates an immediate void in a backfield that has relied on his ability to absorb contact. Beyond the rookie Washington, the Raiders' available options are limited to a mix of depth players and veterans. While Washington has already seen game action, the team must now determine if the remaining personnel can sustain the workload required for Kubiak's run-heavy vision.

The loss is particularly acute given Jeanty's trajectory. In his rookie year, he started all 17 games, supplementing his rushing totals with 55 catches for 346 yards and five touchdowns, according to Tsn. This versatility made him a dual-threat centerpiece for the offense.

The timing of the incident on August 23 coincides with the final stretch of the preseason. The Raiders have already played the Arizona Cardinals and the Houston Texans. According to Heavy.com, the team has only one remaining exhibition contest against the San Francisco 49ers on August 27 before the regular season begins.

Because the team provided no immediate statement or formal diagnosis on Sunday afternoon, the Raiders' medical staff must now evaluate the severity of the right knee injury. For the coaching staff, the next step is determining whether Jeanty can be cleared in time for the September 13 opener against the Miami Dolphins.