Raiders' Jeanty Suffers Sprained Ankle at Practice

Las Vegas RB Ashton Jeanty's believed ankle sprain casts doubt on his Week 1 availability and.

Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty suffered what is believed to be a sprained ankle at practice, as reported by NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport and ESPN Insider Adam Schefter on Sunday night. The injury occurred when Jeanty dove for a pass and landed awkwardly, per multiple reports. Upon his exit from practice, the second-year back did not put weight on his right leg as he was helped off the field by trainers. The Raiders team subsequently took a knee in prayer, a scene that underscored the initial concern before reports indicated the injury is not considered long-term.

Jeanty, 22, was the No. 6 overall pick of the 2025 NFL Draft and is entering just his second season. A non-contact-style injury during a routine practice drill — diving for a pass — is an alarming way for a franchise cornerstone to go down, especially with the regular season looming. The team taking a knee in prayer signaled genuine fear before the prognosis eased.

According to NFL.com, Rapoport and Schefter reported the sprained ankle diagnosis on Sunday night, noting it is not considered a long-term injury but that the timeline for Jeanty's return is unknown. CBS Sports' Dave Richard, who was at the practice, described the scene: teammates immediately froze as Jeanty lay on the ground, trainers tended to him, and the entire team stayed silent on a knee before finishing practice. CBS Sports noted that as of their reporting, no details regarding severity had been confirmed beyond the initial sprained-ankle belief.

The stakes are significant for both the Raiders and fantasy football managers. According to CBS Sports, Jeanty was a borderline first-round fantasy pick before the injury, but the analyst stated he would not draft him before pick No. 35 in one-QB leagues until more is known. CBS Sports also noted there is both a chance Jeanty plays Week 1 and a chance he does not play all year, creating difficult draft-day decisions.

Rookie running back Mike Washington Jr. has impressed in two preseason games and would likely be thrust into the lead role if Jeanty misses regular-season time. Per CBS Sports, Washington has 119 rush yards on 15 carries in two preseason games, and the analyst suggested he would be a Round 5 pick or higher if Jeanty's injury proves season-ending. The Raiders roster also features tailbacks Dylan Laube and Roman Hemby, veteran Dare Ogunbowale, and fullbacks Connor Heyward and Patrick Gurd, providing depth but no proven lead-back equivalent to Jeanty.

The Raiders and their fans now await further medical evaluation to determine a concrete return timeline for Jeanty. While the initial belief of a sprained ankle — not a long-term injury — offers optimism, the unknown recovery window leaves the team's Week 1 plans in flux. Fantasy managers drafting in the coming days face a risk-tolerance decision, as CBS Sports emphasized. Meanwhile, the Raiders' wide receiver corps has drawn criticism from head coach Klint Kubiak after the preseason win over Houston, compounding concerns about the offense's readiness if Jeanty is limited or unavailable to start the regular season.