Raiders' Ashton Jeanty won't 'say names' but calls out Jets defenders anyway

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

Raiders' Ashton Jeanty won't 'say names' but calls out Jets defenders anyway

By Olamilekan Ajayi | Last updated Oct 29, 2026 9:47 AM ET

The Las Vegas Raiders take a four-game losing streak and a 3-4 record to MetLife Stadium for a 1 p.m. ET kickoff Sunday against the New York Jets. Running back Ashton Jeanty was asked about the Jets' defense at his Wednesday media availability, and he answered with an opinion of a few of its defenders that he chose to keep anonymous.

"Yeah. I think we can definitely get the run game going. Get back on track. ...A couple guys out there that don't really want to tackle, but I'm not going to say names," Jeanty said.

The Jets are 2-5 under head coach Aaron Glenn and have allowed 127.7 rushing yards per game, the ninth-most in the NFL. A defense that gives up that much on the ground is a fair target for a back looking for a bounce-back week, so the scouting report holds up.

#Raiders RB Ashton Jeanty on facing the #Jets defense this week: "Yeah. I think we can definitely get the run game going. Get back on track. ... A couple guys out there that don't really want to tackle, but I'm not going to say names." https://t.co/ySSn53MpMC
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) October 29, 2026

Can Ashton Jeanty back up talk against the Jets?

The Raiders rank 31st in rushing at 74.7 yards per game, and their last four games produced 72, 38, 65 and 48 rushing yards. Jeanty has 328 yards on 106 carries, a 3.1 average that is the lowest among backs with that many attempts. His 15 rushing first downs are the fewest of any running back with at least 90 carries, and in Sunday's loss to the Los Angeles Rams he managed 15 yards on eight carries.

Blocking has been the first explanation, and Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak has acted on it by moving Caleb Rogers in at right guard in place of Jackson Powers-Johnson. Kubiak has also made a point of spreading the responsibility.

“We can all do things better, running backs, fullbacks, offensive line, It’s a team thing. We’re definitely focusing on different things with each player, but we can all improve,” coach Kubiak said.

Rookie Mike Washington Jr. explains why the running backs are on that list. Running behind the same line, he has averaged 4.9 yards on 40 carries with six runs of more than 10 yards. Forty carries is a small sample next to Jeanty's 106, but a 1.8-yard gap between two backs sharing one offensive line really points to more than blocking.

Jeanty said this week that he can help the run game by being more decisive with the ball.

Jeanty leads all NFL running backs with 34 catches, 312 receiving yards and three receiving touchdowns, and he caught all eight of his targets for 61 yards and a score against the Rams. The Raiders have found ways to get him the ball through the air while the ground game has slipped from his rookie season, when he ran for 975 yards at 3.7 yards per carry.

Jeanty is right that the Jets have been soft against the run, and he named the right weakness in going after their tackling, since a back averaging 3.1 yards a carry needs defenders to miss to break anything long.

Should he finish with another line like his 15 yards against the Rams, Jets defenders may come for him.

Olamilekan Ajayi

More must-reads: