Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty, the No. 6 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, was limited to a season-low two carries for nine yards in Sunday's win over the New York Jets. He played just 39.7% of offensive snaps, a drop of more than 13 percentage points from his previous low. Meanwhile, rookie backup Mike Washington Jr. recorded a season-high 25 carries and a 60.3% snap share, up over 25 percentage points from his prior high.
Raiders coach Klint Kubiak addressed the shift during his Monday media session, stating he stands by the need for all three backs — Jeanty, Washington, and Dylan Laube. Kubiak highlighted Jeanty's contributions in the passing game, where he caught three of four targets for 64 yards, and praised his pass protection. He added that the distribution of touches and snaps will remain a moving target throughout the 17-game season.
Jeanty has averaged only 3.1 yards per carry this season, contrasting with his 37 receptions for 376 yards and three touchdowns. Washington has averaged 4.3 yards per carry. The Raiders' rushing attack overall managed just 2.9 yards per carry on 33 attempts against the Jets, with the victory fueled by Kirk Cousins and the passing offense.
Jeanty's reduced workload followed his pre-game remarks criticizing the Jets' defense. Las Vegas snapped a four-game losing streak but faces a challenging upcoming schedule with games against the San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, and Denver Broncos.
