Las Vegas Raiders Head Coach Klint Kubiak dropped a bomb: he’s “counting on” running back Ashton Jeanty for Week 1. This comes right after the team wrapped up their preseason games on Thursday night, and it shifts all focus to Jeanty’s ankle.
Ankle Watch: The Silence Is Deafening
Jeanty, a 2025 first-round pick, sprained his ankle just last weekend. What’s wild is how little detail the team has given us about how bad it is or when he’ll actually be back on the field. Kubiak kept that info locked down during his Friday videoconference with reporters. But he absolutely made it clear where Jeanty fits into the Week 1 plan.
“Still on the mend, still working to get him back,” Kubiak said. He added, “We’ve got another week to assess how he’s gonna look going into this first game, but we’re counting on him.” That “counting on him” is the key. It means they need their guy, bad.
Washington Ready, But Not the Star
Sure, fourth-round pick Mike Washington had a solid camp, and Kubiak confirmed he’ll have a role once the regular season kicks off. But let’s be real, the Raiders want Washington’s role to be complementary, not starring. They need Jeanty’s impact.
So, here we are, staring down Week 1, and the big question isn’t just if Jeanty plays, but what kind of Jeanty shows up. The Raiders are clearly banking on their first-round talent to be ready to roll, even with that ankle injury looming large.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pro Football Talk.
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