Raiders HC Klint Kubiak's comments could spell more bad news for RB Ashton Jeanty

Las Vegas Raiders rookie head coach Klint Kubiak remained tight-lipped about second-year running back Ashton Jeanty during his Tuesday news conference. 

Jeanty sprained his right ankle while diving for a pass during Sunday's practice. While not a season-ender, the injury sounds significant. The 2025 first-round pick couldn't put any weight on his leg as he exited the field with trainers. 

On Tuesday, Kubiak spoke about Jeanty for the first time since he suffered his injury. The coach didn't want to offer many details. 

Klint Kubiak gets cagey about Ashton Jeanty 

Asked if Jeanty could start the season on injured reserve, Kubiak said, "Not going to talk about injuries. He's on the mend." 

When pressed to provide more details, the coach offered an even more curt reply. 

"Again, Ashton got hurt in practice, and the whole team took a knee," Kubiak said. "I think that says a lot about him being on the mend and us counting on him. So really excited to get him back. I am a huge believer in the power of prayer."

Perhaps Kubiak's remaining guarded about Jeanty's status to keep opponents guessing. Vegas hosts the Miami Dolphins in Week 1 of the regular season on Sept. 13 (Fox, 4:25 p.m. ET). Revealing he's not going to miss any time would allow Miami to better prepare for that tilt. 

Or, perhaps, he doesn't know if Jeanty will be ready for the start of the regular season. It can take one to three weeks to recover from a mild ankle sprain and three to six for a more severe one. If the Raiders opted to place Jeanty on injured reserve, he would have to miss at least four games. 

Luckily for the Raiders, rookie RB Mike Washington Jr. could handle an increased workload. Through two preseason contests, the 2026 fourth-round pick has rushed for 119 yards on 15 carries. 

While Vegas should like what it has seen from Washington, it'd rather start the season with Jeanty healthy. He's set to be a big part of the team's plans after rushing for 975 yards (No. 18 in the NFL) during his rookie season.