Raiders RB Ashton Jeanty wants more touches: 'I'm ready for the responsibility'

Vincent Bonsignore, Las Vegas Review-Journal on Sep 17, 2025

Published in Football

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LAS VEGAS — The Raiders haven’t eased Ashton Jeanty in as a rookie. But they haven’t fully unleashed the running back, either.

Jeanty, last year’s Heisman Trophy runner-up at Boise State, has 30 carries through two games. He had 11 rushing attempts in the Raiders’ loss to the Chargers on Monday and was given the ball on consecutive plays just once.

His 81 rushing yards so far is hardly what the team envisioned when it selected him with the No. 6 overall pick in April’s draft. Coach Pete Carroll and offensive coordinator Chip Kelly hoped Jeanty would be at the head of a potent running game.

“We want more of him,” Carroll said.

The time seems right for the Raiders (1-1) to take the training wheels off heading into Sunday’s road game against the Commanders (1-1). Jeanty certainly wouldn’t argue with that.

“I don’t think you draft a guy like me to not give me carries and touches,” he said Wednesday. “And I’m ready for the responsibility.”

Slow start

A combination of factors has limited Jeanty’s production through two games.

The offensive line has struggled. The Raiders were trailing for much of Monday’s loss. Kelly and quarterback Geno Smith wanted to get different players involved.

Jeanty also bears some responsibility. He ran for 13 yards his first carry against the Chargers. He went the wrong direction two plays later and missed Smith’s handoff. The Raiders benched Jeanty for the rest of the drive.

The 21-year-old also didn’t perform well in pass protection, which led to running backs Zamir White and Dylan Laube getting more opportunities on third downs and in the two-minute drill.

Jeanty understands he has to earn Carroll and Kelly’s trust. That comes down to having total command of the playbook and playing with confidence.

“Just every single detail, every play,” Jeanty said. “And that’s on me to study those and take the next step at memorizing everything and knowing that playbook like the back of my hand.”

Establishing a rhythm

The coaching staff can do more as well. They can give Jeanty the ball on consecutive plays, especially after a successful run, to help him get into a rhythm.

“We have a ways to go here, and I have no problem telling you that,” Carroll said. “He’s going to get better and get more comfortable.”

Carroll said he would like Jeanty to get around 20 carries per game. That will require more of a commitment to the run game, as the Raiders have just 43 rushing attempts through two weeks and seven of them are from Smith. White is the only other running back on the team who has gotten a carry.

Maybe the Raiders start to feed Jeanty more against the Commanders. Either way, he’s biding his time and trying to keep things in perspective.

“There’s a learning curve to the NFL for every single rookie that comes in. I mean, I think it’s really rare that a guy comes in and is just flat out balling off the rip,” Jeanty said. “So I’m not feeling any type of way towards it. I need to get better. And the big-time performances that everybody might be expecting, I mean, those will come. But it’s just about consistency.”