Ashton Jeanty Knee Injury: Raiders Star Running Back Leaves Practice Unable to Put Weight on Leg
Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty left Sunday’s training camp practice after suffering an apparent right knee injury, creating an immediate concern for a team counting heavily on the young star heading into the 2026 NFL season.
Jeanty was injured during a team period at the Raiders’ practice facility in Henderson, Nevada. The second-year running back was running a route when veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins delivered a low pass in his direction.
Jeanty dove for the football and landed awkwardly on the indoor turf. He remained on the ground for a period of time before athletic trainers came onto the field to assist him.
The severity of the injury was not immediately known.
However, the scene was concerning. Jeanty was unable to put weight on his right leg as he was helped from the field by medical personnel. Raiders players subsequently gathered together and took a knee while praying after their teammate left practice.
The Ashton Jeanty knee injury immediately became one of the biggest stories surrounding the Raiders with the regular season approaching.
The Raiders had not provided a detailed medical update as of the initial reports, meaning it remained unclear whether Jeanty suffered a significant structural injury or whether the problem could prove less serious.
ESPN’s Ryan McFadden reported that the injury appeared to involve Jeanty’s right knee, while other reports described it more generally as a lower-body or right-leg injury. The exact diagnosis will require further medical evaluation.
For Las Vegas, the timing could hardly be worse.
Jeanty is entering his second NFL season after the Raiders selected him with the sixth overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. The organization has been expecting him to become one of the central pieces of its offense.
As a rookie, Jeanty demonstrated why the Raiders invested such a high draft selection in him. He rushed for 975 yards and five touchdowns while also contributing significantly as a receiver.
He caught 55 passes for 346 yards and five receiving touchdowns, giving him a total of 1,321 yards from scrimmage and 10 touchdowns during his first professional season.
Those numbers helped establish Jeanty as a versatile offensive weapon rather than a running back who would be used primarily between the tackles.
The Raiders have been working throughout training camp to expand his role even further. Coaches have been emphasizing his development as a receiver and his ability to become a more complete three-down running back.
That makes the latest injury particularly significant.
Jeanty was expected to play a major role in both the rushing and passing games this season. If the injury forces him to miss extended time, the Raiders could be required to dramatically alter their offensive plans.
The most obvious player who could benefit from Jeanty’s absence is rookie running back Mike Washington Jr.
Washington has impressed during training camp and had already been sharing first-team opportunities with Jeanty before Sunday’s injury. After Jeanty left practice, Washington took the remaining first-team reps.
That development could become increasingly important if medical examinations determine that Jeanty will need to miss games.
Washington was selected by the Raiders in the fourth round of the 2026 NFL Draft and has generated positive attention during training camp. His performance has given Las Vegas confidence that it has another capable option in the backfield.
Still, replacing Jeanty’s production would be a significant challenge.
The young running back entered the 2026 season with considerably higher expectations after showing his ability to contribute in multiple phases as a rookie. His combination of speed, vision and receiving ability had made him one of the most important pieces of the Raiders’ offensive plans.
The injury also comes only a few weeks before the Raiders begin their regular-season schedule, increasing the urgency surrounding the diagnosis.
At this stage, however, it would be premature to speculate about the exact severity of the injury.
The Raiders have not announced a diagnosis, and an apparent knee injury can range from a relatively minor issue to a season-altering problem. The fact that Jeanty could not put weight on his leg understandably created concern, but it does not by itself establish the nature or seriousness of the injury.
What is known is that Jeanty went down awkwardly while attempting to catch a pass and required assistance leaving the field.
His teammates’ reaction demonstrated how seriously they viewed the moment. Players stopped practice activity and gathered to pray for the 22-year-old running back as medical personnel attended to him.
The Raiders will now await further medical evaluations before determining their next steps.
For a team hoping to take a significant step forward, keeping Jeanty healthy is clearly a major priority. His ability to run the football, catch passes and remain on the field was expected to be central to the offense.
If the injury proves minor, the Raiders could simply exercise caution and allow him time to recover before the regular season. If it is more serious, Washington and the rest of the running back room could suddenly take on much larger responsibilities.
For now, Raiders fans are left waiting for answers.
The Ashton Jeanty knee injury remains officially undiagnosed, and the team has not announced how much time, if any, the running back is expected to miss.
Until the Raiders provide a medical update, the biggest concern is simply getting their young star healthy and back on the field. Jeanty was expected to be one of the faces of the team’s offense in 2026, and the outcome of his evaluation could have major implications for Las Vegas’ season.
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