Carroll, Jeanty seek to jump-start Raiders' rookie after frustrating start
Carroll and Geno Smith push for easier path to more carries for Ashton Jeanty as Las Vegas searches for balance after a 1-1 start
Las Vegas — Ashton Jeanty, the Raiders' No. 6 overall pick in this year’s draft, has yet to deliver on the lofty expectations built around his college success. Through two games, Jeanty has 81 rushing yards on 30 carries and three receiving yards, as Las Vegas opened 1-1 after a 20-9 loss to the Chargers on Monday night. The offense has leaned on quarterback Geno Smith’s arm in the early going, but the rookie’s role remains a focal point for a team seeking more consistency from its run game.
Jeanty told reporters after practice that there’s a learning curve for every rookie and he’s ready for the responsibility. “I don’t think you draft a guy like me to not give me carries and I’m ready for the responsibility, and like I said, it’s going to start with me and gotta continue to get better,” he said. “There’s a learning curve to the NFL for every single rookie. It’s really rare that a guy comes in and is just flat-out balling, so I’m not feeling no type of way towards it, I just need to get better. The big-time performances that everybody might be expecting those will come, but it’s just about consistency.”
Carroll noted that the Raiders want “more of” Jeanty in the offense as they look to control the latter stages of games.
The Raiders’ offense has leaned on Smith through the first two games. Smith threw for 362 yards in the season-opening win over the Patriots before throwing three interceptions in a Monday Night Football loss to the Chargers. Jeanty had 11 carries in the 20-9 loss to the Chargers, as Las Vegas trailed for most of the night. The next opportunity to feed Jeanty comes on Sunday as they head to Washington to take on the Commanders.
Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty was a standout in college, piling up 2,601 rushing yards and 29 touchdowns last season as the Broncos reached the College Football Playoff. That production set high expectations for the NFL transition, even after the league drafted him sixth overall. Jeanty said the path to consistent production starts with his own development and better execution in the run game.
The Chargers game underscored the challenge of integrating a high-draft rookie into a game plan that has leaned on the passing game. Las Vegas wants to avoid a scenario where the rookie’s usage is sporadic week to week and instead build a more reliable path to touches. Jeanty remains focused on learning, saying the opportunity to prove himself will come with improved consistency, better reads, and more opportunities to showcase the runs he displayed in college.
As the Raiders prepare for a road trip to Washington, the message from leadership remains clear: Jeanty’s budding skill set could be a significant asset if the run game is balanced with the passing attack. The team is betting that with more opportunities, the rookie can deliver the kind of multi-dimensional threat that made him a playmaking centerpiece in college, and a source of excitement in Las Vegas as the season unfolds.