Ashton Jeanty’s reduced role for Raiders unrelated to Jets comments

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty wasn’t able to fully back up the controversial comments he made about some New York Jets defenders not really wanting to tackle.

He never really got the chance.

Jeanty was given a severely diminished workload in the Raiders’ 38-33 road victory Sunday at MetLife Stadium, a development he says was communicated with him before the game and one coach Klint Kubiak said was unrelated to Jeanty’s public comments.

“It doesn’t matter,” Jeanty said in the locker room after running the ball a career-low two times for 9 yards. “We won. It doesn’t matter how I feel about how many times I get the ball. Whatever it takes for the team to win, I just want to win. That’s all.”

Jeanty, the No. 6 pick in the 2025 draft, did catch three passes for 64 yards, including a huge 45-yard pickup on a screen pass to start the fourth quarter on what proved to be the game-winning drive.

Rookie Mike Washington Jr. had 25 carries for 83 yards, more than the Raiders had run for as a team in any of the past four weeks.

Washington said it was a team effort, though the Raiders fell short of their goal of 100 yards by finishing with 95.

“We weren’t able to accomplish that, but we definitely took a step forward with our schematics,” he said. “We knew we were going to run the ball. Now it’s time to build off what we did today.

“I knew an opportunity was coming. But it’s always just about making sure I do everything I can with whatever opportunities I’m given.”

Kubiak said Washington’s takeover of the backfield in run situations was much more about him earning reps than anything Jeanty did or said.

“That’s my call,” Kubiak said. “Ashton is still going to be a big part of our team. He had a huge catch and he’s still going to be a big part of our run game going forward. We just wanted to give Mike more opportunities today. I think both of those guys are going to be a big part of our rushing and passing success moving forward.”

Jeanty, who entered the game near the bottom of the league at 3.1 yards per carry, was still the primary tailback in passing situations and most third downs.

“I’ve been really good in the passing game, and Mike’s been good in the run game,” Jeanty said. “So I think they just want to take advantage of what we’re both good at.”

Kubiak said he wanted to look at the film before offering an assessment of how either back played Sunday, but his live viewing suggested Washington brought a nice dimension to the run game.

“I thought Mike did a good job,” Kubiak said. “Ran hard. I think we took a step forward in that aspect of our game, but it’s something that’s not a finished product.”

Washington was mostly happy, too.

While the Raiders definitely left meat on the bone in the run game in his opinion, Washington was most pleased with the Raiders ability to close out the game by picking up a couple of first downs in the final four minutes to put the Jets in desperation mode.

“Really, we saw they were tired and kept running what worked best for us,” he said. “We were able to get first downs and then when we didn’t get the last one, (kicker Matt Gay) was able to go in there and seal the game.

“With any team, a big part of running is to wear them down and I felt we were able to do that a little. But there’s more left on the plate so it’s time to build off this.”

For both players.

Both Kubiak and quarterback Kirk Cousins offered positive words for how Jeanty handled the situation, which is a big decision for a team that selected Jeanty in the top 10 last season.

“He’s a high-caliber person,” Cousins said. “He had the same great attitude and made a major difference for us in the pass game and the run game. But he’ll continue to be a key player for us because he has so much ability to be a threat when the ball is in his hands.”

Washington, however, remains a liability in the passing game. He has just three catches on seven targets for 11 yards all season. So Jeanty will continue to have a big role regardless.

That’s just fine for Washington, who has developed a good relationship with Jeanty.

“Since I came in, he’s been a mentor,” Washington said. “It’s his second year and I’m new to everything, so each and every game has been a lesson for me.

“He’s been great.”

Even when he takes verbal shots at the opponents during the week.

“It was definitely out there,” Washington said of the comments. “Just like any other team if you put it out there, it’s going to be bulletin board material. But at the end of the day, we’re all pros and we were brought here for a reason. So you just have to do what you have to do.”

Contact Adam Hill at [email protected]. Follow @AdamHillLVRJ on X.

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