Ashton Jeanty shares injury update ahead of Raiders’ Week 1 opener

The frightening scene that briefly threatened Ashton Jeanty’s availability for Week 1 has given way to a much more encouraging picture.

The Raiders running back said he feels “really good” and is “super excited” to face the Dolphins on Sunday at Allegiant Stadium after returning from an ankle injury.

“Any time away from the game, it’s tough,” Jeanty told reporters. “But to get back out there, mainly with the guys, man, it felt good.”

Jeanty was a full participant Wednesday and practiced again Thursday, strengthening expectations that he will play in Las Vegas’ season opener.

That outcome appeared far less certain when Jeanty sustained the ankle injury during an Aug. 23 practice. He landed awkwardly while attempting to catch a low pass from Kirk Cousins and initially could not put weight on his foot, requiring assistance from trainers.

Jeanty said the injury looked more alarming than it felt.

“I knew it wasn’t anything too bad, even though I couldn’t put pressure on my foot,” Jeanty said. “I figured it wouldn’t be anything that’s too long-term.”

His return is significant for a Raiders offense hoping to unlock more of the talent Jeanty showed beneath an inefficient rookie stat line.

Jeanty finished last season with 975 yards and five touchdowns on 266 carries, averaging 3.67 yards per attempt. He also contributed 55 receptions for 346 yards.

The underlying rushing numbers indicate that the modest average had plenty to do with his surroundings.

Only 126 of Jeanty’s rushing yards came before contact, amounting to approximately 0.47 yards per carry before a defender reached him. The remaining 849 yards — nearly 87 percent of his total — came after contact.

He also avoided or broke 50 tackle attempts across 311 charted contact events, producing a 16.1 percent avoided-tackle rate. Those figures suggest Jeanty repeatedly created yardage without receiving much initial help from his blocking.

Improved blocking under new coach Klint Kubiak could turn Jeanty’s substantial after-contact production into a second-year breakout.

The remaining question is how much work he receives immediately.

Las Vegas could give rookie Mike Washington Jr. more snaps because Jeanty missed more than two weeks of practice. Washington earned that opportunity by producing 168 yards on 23 preseason carries.

Kubiak was instrumental in bringing Washington to Las Vegas, pushing the Raiders to trade up and select him at No. 122. His size, speed and direct running style provide a useful complement to Jeanty’s contact balance and creativity.

For now, Jeanty’s return has resolved the Raiders’ largest backfield concern before Week 1.

The injury looked serious. The player emerging from it could be even more dangerous with a little room to run.

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