Sports · American Football · 2 hrs ago
Top-10 running backs Jeanty and Love face early setbacks
The Raiders drafted Ashton Jeanty sixth overall in 2025 hoping he would improve their running game.
This season, his carries have fallen from 23 in Week 1 to two in a win over the Jets, while fourth-round rookie Mike Washington Jr. had 25 carries in that game.
Las Vegas says Jeanty is healthy enough to play and wants to see more, and it may keep giving Washington the ball if Jeanty does not respond.
In Arizona, the Cardinals took Jeremiyah Love third overall in April, but he has gained 268 rushing yards and scored once in six games.
A high ankle sprain has sent Love to injured reserve, after another ankle injury earlier this season.
The struggles raise questions about whether running backs are worth top draft picks, especially when teams could use those picks on other positions or find runners later.
The Raiders may give Washington more carries, while the sources give no return date for Love.
The Raiders have reduced Ashton Jeanty’s workload, while the Cardinals are placing Jeremiyah Love on injured reserve with a high ankle sprain.
Jeanty, drafted sixth overall in 2025, had two carries for nine yards in Las Vegas’s Week 8 win over the Jets.
Mike Washington Jr., a fourth-round rookie, had 25 carries for 83 yards in that game.
Love, selected third overall in April, has 268 rushing yards and one touchdown in six games.
The setbacks have renewed questions about the value of drafting running backs in the top 10.
- Who
- Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty and Cardinals running back Jeremiyah Love.
- What
- Jeanty’s workload has fallen, and Love is headed to injured reserve with a high ankle sprain.
- When
- Jeanty’s reduced workload was reported after the Week 8 game; Love is headed to injured reserve during his rookie season.
- Where
- Las Vegas and Arizona.
- Why
- The Raiders want to see more from Jeanty and hope a reduced workload serves as a wake-up call. Love has a high ankle sprain.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The Raiders drafted Jeanty sixth overall.
The Cardinals selected Love third overall.
Jeanty had two carries for nine yards in the Raiders’ win over the Jets, while Mike Washington Jr. had 25 carries for 83 yards.
Love had 268 rushing yards and one touchdown before heading to injured reserve with a high ankle sprain.
- Jeanty’s draft position
- Sixth overall in 2025
- Jeanty in Week 8
- 2 carries for 9 yards
- Washington in Week 8
- 25 carries for 83 yards
- Love’s draft position
- Third overall
- Love’s season totals
- 268 rushing yards and 1 touchdown in 6 games
- Love’s injury
- High ankle sprain; headed to injured reserve