The Las Vegas Raiders‘ 2026 NFL season may be over before it even began. At least for Ashton Jeanty, who has set off every alarm after going down with an injury in practice, raising concerns for Fernando Mendoza and company.
“Jeanty left Sunday’s training camp practice early after suffering an apparent right knee injury,” as reported by ESPN. “As he was being helped off, Jeanty couldn’t put pressure on his right leg. The team did not provide further details on the severity of Jeanty’s injury.“
Expected to be the engine of the team in Sin City, a long-term injury to Jeanty would be catastrophic for the Raiders, let alone a season-ending setback. The organization’s silence surrounding the situation only adds to the suspense, while speculation grows louder that Jeanty may have suffered a severe injury in practice.
Needless to say, losing Jeanty before the 2026 NFL season’s kickoff could derail Las Vegas’ hopes and put rookie quarterback Mendoza in an even more complicated situation. Most likely, the Raiders would have to make a move to bring in a top running back, as the ground-game alternatives are mainly inexperienced talents or simply not at Jeanty’s level.
Ashton Jeanty #2 of the Las Vegas Raiders.
Las Vegas’ RB depth chart
Rookie running back Mike Washington Jr. out of Arkansas has run away with the job behind Jeanty on Las Vegas’ depth chart. Overnight, he could become the Raiders’ new HB1 if Jeanty indeed misses time with a lower-body injury.
In fact, the rookie took over first-team reps in practice after Jeanty had to leave the session with the assistance of trainers. Still, Las Vegas may want to bring in a more experienced tailback.
In addition to Washington Jr., the Raiders have Dylan Laube, Roman Hemby, and Dare Ogunbowale. Clearly, Jeanty is one of one. Las Vegas has no way of truly replacing him. Not in-house, clearly, but not around the league, either—not with a realistic trade target.
Tough blow to Raiders
If a serious injury is confirmed, it will be heartbreaking in more ways than one. With many expecting a great year from Jeanty, this early adversity rains down on what could be—or perhaps could have been—a historic season for one of the most talented and electric young stars in the NFL.
Injuries happen in the NFL, especially in a sport like football, but when they occur in practice, they leave an even sourer taste in everyone’s mouths.
