Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty suffered a sprained ankle during an indoor training camp practice on August 23, 2026. While the injury caused immediate concern and halted practice, ESPN reported that the issue is not considered long-term, sparing the team a major setback ahead of the regular season.
Anxious Moments on the Practice Field in Henderson
The Las Vegas Raiders experienced a severe injury scare on Sunday, August 23, 2026, when star running back Ashton Jeanty went down during an indoor team practice at the Intermountain Health Performance Center in Henderson, Nevada. The second-year rusher landed awkwardly on his right leg after diving to make a catch on a low throw from quarterback Kirk Cousins during 11-on-11 drills, as reported by CBS Sports.
Jeanty was unable to put any weight on his right leg as athletic trainers rushed to assist him off the field. The severity of the initial scene left teammates visibly shaken. According to the New York Post, an ominous silence fell over the facility, and the entire team dropped to one knee in a moment of silent prayer while trainers tended to the running back.
Hours after the incident, however, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported that the organization received a far more encouraging medical outlook. ESPN’s Adam Schefter and NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported that Jeanty was diagnosed with a sprained ankle, successfully avoiding major structural damage, though the precise recovery timeline remains undetermined.
Offensive Stakes for Klint Kubiak and the Raiders
The relief felt across the franchise underscores Jeanty’s vital role in the offensive scheme. Selected sixth overall in the 2025 NFL Draft out of Boise State, Jeanty started all 17 games as a rookie, compiling 975 rushing yards and five touchdowns, alongside 346 receiving yards and five additional scores on 55 catches, as detailed by Bleacher Report.
Under first-year head coach Klint Kubiak, the team’s rebuilding offense was designed to feature Jeanty as a focal point. Reporting from Bleacher Report noted that Kubiak intended to deploy Jeanty as a bell-cow running back,
pointing out that the young rusher has looked extremely comfortable in this outside zone scheme
throughout training camp.
Rookie Mike Washington Jr. Steps Into First-Team Reps
While Jeanty recovers from the lower-leg injury, the Raiders possess depth in the offensive backfield. Rookie running back Mike Washington Jr., a fourth-round draft pick out of Arkansas, has delivered impressive performances during training camp and the preseason, according to NFL.com.
Washington showed his playmaking capabilities during preseason action, recording a 53-yard run against the Arizona Cardinals and adding solid production against the Houston Texans. CBS Sports noted that Washington has demonstrated reliability in pass protection as well as receiving out of the backfield.
Should Jeanty miss time as the regular season approaches, Washington is expected to shoulder the primary workload, with veteran Dare Ogunbowale, Dylan Laube, and Roman Hemby also factoring into the backfield rotation under Kubiak’s staff.
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