NFL: Las Vegas Raiders OTA
May 20, 2026; Henderson, NV, USA; Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty (2) speaks during a news conference during organized team activities at Intermountain Health Performance Center. Mandatory Credit: Candice Ward-Imagn Images Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters)
Asheton Jeanty was looking forward to the Las Vegas Raiders’ game against the New York Jets in Week 8. Jeanty told reporters that he thought the Raiders would get their run game going on Sunday because the Jets have players who don’t look like they want to tackle. By Sunday he had lost his starting job.
Sunday started with Rex Ryan ripping Jeanty for his comments about the Jets’ defense on NFL Live. Ryan pointed out that Jeanty was averaging just 3.1 yards per attempt this season, called him “Charmin soft” and said he was probably the worst running back draft pick of the last 20 years.
The Raiders must have agreed. Mike Washington Jr., who was averaging 4.9 yards per carry this season and had scored as many rushing touchdowns on 66 fewer carries, started at running back.
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Kirk Cousins Has More Carries And More Rushing Yards Than Ashton Jeanty Today. Read That Again. Kirk Cousins, Out-Rushing The Raiders’ Running Back. Looks Like Jeanty Has Been Benched. Strange Times In Vegas. 🎰 https://t.co/3QNkoTdtLz
— SM Highlights (@SMHighlights1) November 1, 2026
Jeanty had just one carry in the first half. He was handed the ball on third-and-two and was immediately stuffed. The Jets did in fact want to tackle on that play and then they did it again when Connor Heyward tried the tush push on fourth down.
Jeanty was the No. 6 pick in the 2025 draft. He started the first 24 games of his career and only has three 100-yard rushing games. It seems this game against the Jets will be his new career-low for carries. He had six carries in two games last season. Last week he ran for just 15 yards on eight carries.