Ashton Jeanty’s status for Sunday’s game against New England is up in the air due to nagging ankle and foot injuries, a gut punch for a Raiders offense already struggling to move the ball. Coach Klint Kubiak told us Friday that Jeanty is going to “do his best to go,” which sounds like a tough fight for any running back, let alone one battling two lower-body issues. You know this kid’s got heart, but can he really be effective on Sunday? That’s the million-dollar question heading into this weekend.
The Injury Report Gets Worse Before It Gets Better
It’s not just Jeanty, either. The Raiders’ injury list is getting longer, and it’s hitting key spots. Wide receiver Jalen Nailor is out with a concussion, and backup offensive lineman Trey Zuhn III won’t be playing thanks to a knee injury. There’s a glimmer of hope on the receiver front with Dont’e Thornton Jr. who has been on injured reserve with a hamstring issue. He practiced in full Wednesday and Thursday, kicking off his 21-day window to potentially get activated. Talk about needing some good news! On the offensive line, right guard Jackson Powers-Johnson is ready to return from a groin injury. But here’s the kicker: Kubiak wouldn’t guarantee him his starting job back over Caleb Rogers, simply saying, “We’ll see.” That kind of uncertainty on the line, especially with all these other issues, is just brutal.
An O-Line Nightmare and an NFL-Worst Run Game
The running game is already a mess, even if Jeanty manages to suit up. The Raiders are averaging a pathetic 3.13 yards per carry, which is dead last in the entire NFL! Jeanty and Mike Washington Jr. have been splitting most of the snaps, so if Jeanty is limited or out, that’s a massive problem. And guess what? The offensive line is a huge part of this disaster. According to Pro Football Reference, Las Vegas averages a dismal 1.4 yards before contact, also last in the league. That’s just unacceptable. How can any running back, no matter how talented, get anything going when there’s no room to run before they even get touched? Kubiak did praise Jeanty, saying he’s “been doing a great job,” and he’s “a leader on our team” who they are “counting on.” He added, “I couldn’t be more happy with Ashton. We got to keep getting him and the entire offense playing better every week.” That last part is the truth; it’s going to take everyone stepping up.
The Raiders are heading to New England this Sunday, desperately needing to find some answers. With their top running back hobbled and an offensive line that can’t create space, trying to kickstart this struggling offense against the Patriots feels like an uphill climb.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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