The Las Vegas Raiders entered the 2025 season hoping that their new-look offense could find new life on the ground. With that comes high expectations for the sixth overall pick, running back Ashton Jeanty.
Following the Raiders‘ loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, Jeanty was asked about his role, the lack of carries, and the overall struggles of the run game.
Raiders Rookie RB Ashton Jeanty Taking Accountability After Slow Start
Rather than deflect blame, Jeanty showed maturity beyond his years.
“I think we didn’t protect for the quarterback well enough,” Jeanty admitted postgame. “Us, as running backs, we could have done a better job of picking up some of those blitzes. …I think we didn’t really establish the run game, so I feel like they weren’t so much respecting the play-action. We got a lot to fix, work on, I got a lot to get better on. I gotta be a lot better for this team.”
Through his first two games as a pro, Jeanty is averaging just 2.7 yards per carry. To put that into perspective, there are only five qualifying running backs (minimum 10 attempts) in the NFL averaging less.
It’s a small sample size, but the lack of production has raised early questions about how effective the Raiders‘ rushing attack can be.
Still, Jeanty isn’t placing the blame on play-calling or workload.
Instead, he’s owning the inconsistencies. When asked what has been the biggest issue with the run game, Jeanty said, “I think last week was on me. I didn’t do a good job at reading the plays and I put it on myself again this week.”
That type of accountability is why the Raiders drafted him, and it could be the exact mentality that allows him to bounce back as the season progresses.
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Earning Trust
When asked whether he feels he needs more carries to be satisfied, Jeanty didn’t mince his words.
“I think I just got to continue to work with what I get. Whether it’s 10 carries, 15, 20, whatever the volume is, I got to keep earning the trust of Chip Kelly to continue to get me the ball throughout the course of the game.”
It’s clear Jeanty understands his situation. Just because he’s a top-ten pick doesn’t mean the opportunities will fall into his lap.
But it shouldn’t be all on Jeanty either.
The Raiders‘ offensive line struggled against the Chargers‘ defensive front and hasn’t provided many holes for Jeanty to run through. Still, Jeanty doesn’t blame the offensive line for his slow start.
As the season continues, Jeanty’s development will be a key storyline for the Raiders. With only two weeks in the books, there’s plenty of time for him to turn things around. His candidness with the media and emphasis on self-improvement suggest that he’s not discouraged by the slow start, but rather, he’s motivated to prove himself.
Until then, Jeanty’s focus remains on putting in the work.
Raiders’ Ashton Jeanty Shares Blunt Opinion on Offensive Struggles