The Las Vegas Raiders have been one of the biggest surprises through the first quarter of the NFL season. First-year head coach Klint Kubiak has them 3-1 after winning their first three games, and they lost only narrowly to their division rival Chiefs in Week 4. Now, the Raiders are looking to rebound Sunday against the Patriots in Foxborough.
Unfortunately, they may have to do it without their star running back, Ashton Jeanty. Jeanty was surprisingly added to the injury report on Thursday after being a full participant on Wednesday. That’s not the trend you want to see from one of your best offensive players.
Jeanty is reportedly dealing with an ankle and foot injury. The ankle issue has lingered since he first went down with it in training camp in August, though he hasn’t missed a game yet. The foot injury is new and will be something to monitor when the final injury report drops Friday.
More news: Jerry Jones Called Out Over Cowboys’ Lack of Identity More news: Ravens Coach Makes Telling Admission About Offense Without Lamar Jackson Jeanty is already off to a better start this season than he had as a rookie. Through four games, he has 264 rushing yards, 169 receiving yards, and two total touchdowns, and Kubiak’s promise to make him the focal point of the offense has held true. The Raiders have lost just one game so far, and Jeanty is a big part of the reason why.
Thankfully for Vegas, if Jeanty misses time, it has an ascending young back who can take over as the lead option: fourth-round rookie Mike Washington Jr. The 6-foot-2, 228-pound Arkansas product has already rushed for 120 yards and a touchdown on just 24 carries (5.0 yards per carry), including 54 yards and a touchdown against the Saints in Week 3. The Patriots have one of the better defenses in the NFL, but they can be beaten on the ground.
Washington should see plenty of opportunity and could be in line for a breakout game if Jeanty is out. More news: Eagles Make Move at RB Amid Saquon Barkley Injury Concerns
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