Sports · American Football · 2 hrs ago
Mike Washington Jr. Takes Lead Role as Ashton Jeanty's Carries Fall
The Las Vegas Raiders beat the New York Jets 38-33 in Week 8, but running back Ashton Jeanty had only two carries.
Jeanty, the Raiders’ sixth overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, also caught three passes and had a career-low five total touches.
Mike Washington Jr. played a career-high 38 snaps and started ahead of Jeanty for the first time this season.
Coach Klint Kubiak said the decision was his and that the reduced workload was not a response to Jeanty’s comments about the Jets’ defense.
Jeanty is also averaging fewer rushing yards per carry than last season, and his role has shrunk as the season has gone on.
Kubiak said Jeanty remains important to the team and that both backs will contribute going forward.
Mike Washington Jr. started over Ashton Jeanty for the first time this season as the Las Vegas Raiders beat the New York Jets 38-33 in Week 8.
Jeanty had two carries and five total touches, the fewest of his young career.
Washington set a career high with 38 snaps.
Raiders coach Klint Kubiak said he chose to give Washington more opportunities and said Jeanty would remain a big part of the team.
Jeanty’s carries have decreased each week since he opened the season with 102 rushing yards and two touchdowns against the Miami Dolphins.
- Who
- Mike Washington Jr. took on a larger role for the Las Vegas Raiders as Ashton Jeanty’s workload fell.
- What
- Washington started over Jeanty for the first time this season. Jeanty had two carries and five total touches.
- When
- Nov. 1, 2026, in Week 8.
- Where
- MetLife Stadium, in the Raiders’ road game against the New York Jets.
- Why
- Coach Klint Kubiak said he wanted to give Washington more opportunities. The sources do not state a further reason for the shift.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Jeanty recorded 102 rushing yards, 45 receiving yards and two touchdowns on 29 touches against the Miami Dolphins.
The Raiders beat the New York Jets 38-33, and Jeanty had two carries while Washington set a career high with 38 snaps.
- Game result
- Raiders beat the New York Jets 38-33
- Jeanty’s carries
- 2 in Week 8
- Jeanty’s total touches
- 5, the fewest of his young career
- Washington’s snaps
- 38, a career high
- Season-opening game
- 102 rushing yards, 45 receiving yards and 2 touchdowns for Jeanty against the Miami Dolphins
1 source
What people are saying
That's my call. Ashton's still going to be a big part of our team. He had a huge catch. He's going to be a huge part of our run game going forward. We just wanted to give Mike a few more opportunities today. I think both of those guys are going to be a huge part of our rushing and passing success moving forward.
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.
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#Raiders RB Ashton Jeanty said it was “communicated” to him before the game that he would get fewer carries. “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.”
Rex Ryan on Raiders RB Ashton Jeanty saying that there are a couple of Jets who look like they don’t want to tackle: