Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Ashton Jeanty Makes Strong Statement – Calls for More Responsibility with the Raiders amid Limited Usage

The Raiders' run game is struggling despite drafting Ashton Jeanty at number 6 overall

Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

The Las Vegas Raiders drafted running back Ashton Jeanty with the sixth overall pick at this year’s NFL draft. Normally, when a team drafts a player so high in the first round, they are aware of his expertise, skillset, and his ability to elevate the position of need to a higher level.

That, however, does not seem to be the case with the Raiders and their first-round rookie running back. Through two games into the season, Vegas has utilized Jeanty in a limited capacity, raising eyebrows among analysts and experts of the game.

Ashton Jeanty’s Message to the Raiders

Following the week 2 game against divisional opponents, the Los Angeles Chargers, Jeanty was asked by the media if he was ready to take on more responsibility. The rookie responded confidently, while sending a strong message across to the team’s coaching staff in the process.

“I don’t think you draft a guy like me to not give me, you know, carries and touches,” said Jeanty before acknowledging his need to improve. “I’m ready for the responsibility. Like I said, it’s gonna start with me in the run game and I gotta continue to get better.”

Ashton Jeanty on being ready for a larger workload, via @JesseSBSN:

"I don't think you draft a guy like me to not give me carries and touches."pic.twitter.com/mNteemZ6k0
— Underdog NFL (@UnderdogNFL) September 17, 2025

Ashton Jeanty’s Usage in the First Two Games

In the first game of the season against the Patriots, Jeanty had 19 carries for 38 yards and a touchdown, which comes to just 2 yards per carry. He also caught 2 passes for 2 yards.

Last week against the Chargers, he had just 11 carries, but improved his yards per carry to 3.9 as he rushed for 43 yards. And his 3 receptions yield just one yard. Despite the slow start, Jeanty is eyeing a bigger role in the team, which also seems to be the general consensus among the game’s experts.

Expert Opinions on Jeanty’s Overall Touches

Sportswriter and analyst, Field Yates raised the question of logic behind drafting a running back at number 6 overall and then limiting his snap count when the most productive years are often the first 4-6 years of the player’s career. To his defense, Jeanty played in only 56% of the snaps in the Raiders’ week 2 game against the Chargers.

Ashton Jeanty: “I’d draft the guy they can’t tackle.” pic.twitter.com/fxZ1wG8dlP
— Nick Walters (@nickwalt) September 16, 2025

On similar lines, sportscaster and radio host Rich Eisen also questioned the limited role Jeanty has played in his first couple of outings. Having said that, Eisen also touched upon the fact that Jeanty lacks as a pass-protector, a key knock on the youngster, especially on a crucial third-down play.

It is a key reason why Jeanty has been on the sidelines in such situations when the Raiders have other players, such as Zamir White and Dylan Laube, who can better fulfil the role.

Pete Carroll Responds

When asked about the same by the media following the Raiders’ loss to the Chargers on Monday Night Football (MNF), the head coach responded by acknowledging Jeanty’s workload has been less, but it is because the team is working him into a bigger role. Carroll also stated that as the games progress, Jeanty’s involvement will also increase.

“We’re just getting started. He’s breaking into the NFL. He’s figuring it out. When he had 11 or something carries tonight. Is that what he had? 11, Yeah. He’ll get more. That’ll come,” said Carroll.

Pete Carroll on RB Ashton Jeanty Week 2:

“He’s breaking into the NFL, figuring it out, and running well. We just need to get him more carries… 8–9 more snaps to get him around 20 would be perfect.”

Jeanty: 11 carries, 43 yards pic.twitter.com/l98puUwZYJ
— SleeperNFL (@SleeperNFL) September 16, 2025

The veteran coach also added that the team needs to improve on its rushing game, but Jeanty’s workload will increase gradually.

“We’re going to have to run the football better than we did, more effectively. We got to get more yards. We have 50-60 yards or something rushing. That’s not enough. We got to get more than that. But as far as pushing the issue with him, trying to get him 25 carries or something like that, we’re breaking him in, and so that’ll come.”

In short, Vegas plans to take its time in developing its rookie first-round draft pick before it unleashes him with an increased workload. The fact that Jeanty has not gotten off to a blistering start is also not helping his case. Up next, the Raiders face the Washington Commanders, and it will be interesting to see how Jeanty performs in week 3.

Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Ashton Jeanty

Las vegas Raiders

NFL

Pete Carroll

Devavrat Kulkarni

nfl

I am a content writer for the NFL team, and joined The Playoffs after working with Sportskeeda and NFL Analysis as an NFL writer. After starting my professional career as a French-to-English translator, working as a content writer is a new adventure for me. I started out in the sports media field for two main reasons: my love for sports in general, especially the NFL, NBA, and Tennis, as well as my passion for writing. The best part of this job is that I get to write a variety of pieces with the freedom to explore content from various angles. It also enables me to stay up to date with the sporting world, which otherwise can be difficult to do in the day-to-day grind. In a world full of chaos, sports unite and entertain like nothing else!