The Las Vegas Raiders desperately needed to turn things around this Sunday, trying to claw back to a .500 record after a brutal four-game losing streak. But their starting running back, Ashton Jeanty, was practically invisible against the New York Jets, getting his first carry only in the final minutes of the second quarter. This is a head-scratcher, especially when the team needed “all hands on deck” to hit a 4-4 record.
Where Was Jeanty All Game?
Here’s the wild part: Jeanty wasn’t listed on the Raiders’ final injury report for the game. Not a peep. And head coach Klint Kubiak hadn’t said anything recently that would suggest limiting Jeanty’s snaps or status. So why did his backup, Mike Washington Jr., get the start and handle the early workload? This isn’t just about a change of pace, this is a starting back being sideline for nearly an entire half without explanation. It’s a peculiar situation that raises a lot of questions.
Trash Talk or Hidden Ailment: The Rumors Fly
So what’s the deal? A couple of theories are floating around. Some are saying Kubiak might have benched Jeanty for talking a little too much smack before the game. Jeanty apparently noted that a few Jets defenders “don’t want to tackle,” which, yeah, that’s prime bulletin-board material. Sitting him for a while could definitely be a disciplinary move for unnecessary trash talk. But honestly, I don’t buy that one as the *most* likely outcome, even though the lack of an injury report makes it somewhat plausible.
To me, the more probable answer is that the Raiders finally gave Jeanty some much-needed rest. He’s been battling a bunch of lower-body injuries for a while now, and it’s been showing on the field. The dude only had 64 total rushing yards in his last three games. With the Raiders’ bye week not coming until Week 13, it makes sense to try and steal some rest for your tailback against an opponent you might consider “weaker on paper” to limit his workload. However, the fact that there was zero injury designation closed for Jeanty definitely makes you scratch your head about them making such a significant decision on a whim without reporting it.
What’s Next for Jeanty and the Raiders?
This whole situation is just weird. We’re all waiting to see how Raiders leadership and Ashton Jeanty himself try to clear up what exactly went down after the Jets game. Fans are gonna want answers, and they’ll want them fast, especially as the Raiders push through the season. Keep your eyes peeled, because this story isn’t over yet.
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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