Ex-Chiefs star named Ashton Jeanty replacement candidate despite Raiders RB’s lucky injury escape
Ashton Jeanty was helped off the practice field on Sunday after injuring his leg, and his status for Week 1 is now in doubt.
The running back, who was poised for big things heading into his second season with the Las Vegas Raiders, was unable to put pressure on his right leg as he made his way off.
During the team period, Jeanty ran a route and dove for the ball, which was thrown low by veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins, who is expected to start Week 1.
He landed awkwardly on the turf inside the practice facility, and teammates took a knee and said a prayer after the second-year star exited the field.
Fans were quick to fear the worst as the Raiders didn’t provide details on the severity of Jeanty’s injury, but it appears the team will be breathing a huge sigh of relief.
Ashton Jeanty diagnosed with sprained ankle
“Raiders RB Ashton Jeanty, who had to be helped off the practice field today, is believed to have sprained his ankle, sources tell
Adam Schefter and me,” NFL insider Ian Rapoport reported late Sunday.
NFL Weekly Newsletter - SIGN UP!
talkSPORT is your home for NFL in the UK as we launch our biggest year of coverage yet!
2026 promises to be an epic year for NFL on talkSPORT – and we want you to join us for the ride.
This season will be our biggest ever with live commentary of 90+ games, including behind-the-scenes access to international games and all three London fixtures, plus bumper coverage of Super Bowl 61 at SoFi Stadium.
Exclusive interviews, hard-hitting opinion, latest front-office drama and top breaking news – all delivered straight to your inbox each week.
“Las Vegas still are unsure how long he will be out, but it is not considered a long-term injury and the organization is breathing a sigh of relief.”
After Jeanty left the field, Las Vegas’ rookie running back Mike Washington Jr. took the rest of the first-team reps.
The fourth-round pick, who played for Buffalo, New Mexico State and Arkansas across a five-year college career, has had a strong training camp and was alternating starting reps with Jeanty before the injury.
With the Raiders unsure how long their star running back will be out, Washington could be set to feature heavily in the final preseason game against the San Francisco 49ers on Thursday night.
He has 119 yards from 15 carries across the first two warm-up games, where Fernando Mendoza’s brother stole the show, before Las Vegas beat the Houston Texans.
Raiders tipped to sign longtime Chiefs running back after Ashton Jeanty injury
But with Jeanty’s immediate status unclear, and many fearing the worst when he went down, one NFL analyst tipped Las Vegas to look outwards — to veteran free agent Kareem Hunt — for relief.
Hunt was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in 2017, and featured heavily for two seasons before being signed by the Cleveland Browns.
The running back played four seasons in Ohio, and returned to Kansas City for another stint with the Chiefs in 2024.
He’s now a free agent, as Andy Reid has turned to younger, more dynamic rushers in Kenneth Walker III, Emari Demercado, and Emmett Johnson for the upcoming season.
It’s been suggested that Jeanty’s injury has opened the door to Hunt, who could now have a landing spot in Sin City.
“If the Ashton Jeanty injury is serious, they should try to trade for Tyrone Tracy or James Conner. Kareem Hunt might be their best free agent option,” NFL analyst Nathan Jahnke of Pro Football Focus wrote Sunday.
Even before the second-year star went down, the Raiders were named as a team with interest in Hunt by Maxwell Cashio of Arrowhead Addict.
“A likely spot for Kareem Hunt is a team in need of a veteran back who can get yardage and give a breather to a dynamic younger starter,” Cashio wrote on August 21.
“Look for him to potentially land with a division rival in the Las Vegas Raiders, a team that relied heavily on rookie Ashton Jeanty last season (266 touches in 2025) and could use a veteran presence to relieve Jeanty on short-yardage opportunities.”
Indeed, Jeanty will be taking an enforced breather heading into the 2026 season.
If the Raiders require a veteran back to provide relief, Hunt is their man, and could get some early-season touches.
What's Your Reaction?
Like
0
Dislike
0
Love
0
Funny
0
Angry
0
Sad
0
Wow
0
