Ashton Jeanty needs help leaving practice with injury

Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Raiders RB Ashton Jeanty needs help leaving practice with injury

By Adam Gretz | Last updated Aug 23, 2026 6:07 PM ET

If the Las Vegas Raiders are going to be even remotely competitive this season, they could really use a big year from second-year running back Ashton Jeanty. That plan might have been sidetracked on Sunday when he had to be helped off the field during practice with a sprained ankle.

Raiders RB Ashton Jeanty leaves practice with leg injury

According to a report from ESPN Raiders reporter Ryan McFadden, Jeanty was diving for a pass, landed awkwardly, and could not put any weight on his right leg as he was being helped off the field.

McFadden said that the entire team took a knee and said a prayer as Jeanty was helped off.

#Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty left practice early after suffering an apparent knee injury.

During the team period, he was diving for a catch and landed awkwardly. He was helped off the field by trainers and couldn’t put any pressure on his right leg.

Entire team took a…
— Ryan McFadden (@ryanmcfadden_) August 23, 2026

ESPN's Adam Schefter later announced an update on Jeanty's injury, revealing that the running back sprained his ankle.

Raiders RB Ashton Jeanty, who had to be helped off the practice field today, is believed to have sprained his ankle, sources tell @rapsheet and me. The Raiders still are unsure how long he will be out, but it is not considered a long-term injury and the organization is breathing… pic.twitter.com/bwyMLcU5tv
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 24, 2026

The Raiders selected Jeanty with the No. 6 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft in the hopes he could be a game-changing running back.

His rookie season had its share of highs and lows, but he spent the entire year running behind a makeshift offensive line that was one of the worst in the league for run blocking.

He finished the season with 975 yards on 266 carries for a 3.7-yard-per-carry average.

With the arrival of quarterback Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 overall pick, combined with the signing of Pro Bowl center Tyler Linderbaum and the return of Jackson Powers-Johnson to upgrade the interior of the line, there was some real hope that the running game could take off a bit more this season.

It still might, but Jeanty's health will be a big part of that.

The Raiders used a fourth-round pick on running back Mike Washington Jr., and while they do love his talent and potential, they were still planning on Jeanty being the workhorse for the offense. Now they have to wait to find out how significant his injury is.

Adam Gretz

Adam Gretz is a freelance writer based in Pittsburgh. He covers the NHL, NFL, MLB and NBA. Baseball is his favorite sport -- he is nearly halfway through his goal of seeing a game in every MLB ballpark. Catch him on X @AGretz

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