Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty was helped off the practice field on Sunday with an apparent leg injury, a frightening scene that brought training camp in Henderson, Nevada, to a halt just weeks before the 2026 season opener. By Sunday night, the initial panic had eased considerably: Jeanty is believed to have suffered a sprained ankle — not a long-term injury — according to ESPN insider Adam Schefter and NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport.
The sequence underscored both Jeanty's importance to the franchise and the thin margin for error in a Raiders backfield that runs almost entirely through the second-year star. Teammates took a knee in prayer as the 22-year-old was attended to, a moment that quickly spread across social media as fans braced for the worst.
What Happened: Inside Jeanty's Practice Injury
Jeanty went down during Sunday's practice following a collision, according to multiple reports, and was helped off the field by the training staff. The team did not immediately provide information on the injury, leaving reporters and fans to speculate through the afternoon and into the evening.
Early headlines described an "apparent right leg injury" and, in some cases, a possible knee issue — descriptions that heightened fears of a season-ending setback for a player the Raiders have built their offense around. But later reporting narrowed the diagnosis to a sprained ankle, a far more manageable outcome for a running back whose explosive lower-body movement is the foundation of his game.
The Raiders have not yet disclosed the severity of the sprain, and no official timetable has been set. Still, the shift from "leg injury" to "sprained ankle" marked a meaningful reprieve for a franchise that watched its most important offensive player leave the field in stunned silence.
From Knee-Injury Scare to Sprained Ankle: How the News Unfolded
The story moved quickly through Sunday evening. Here's how the reporting developed:
- Sunday afternoon: Jeanty is helped off the practice field in Henderson with an apparent right leg injury. ESPN's Ryan McFadden reports the entire team took a knee and prayed over their star running back.
- Early headlines: Initial reports, including some aggregated from early descriptions, describe a possible knee injury.
- Sunday night: Schefter and Rapoport report the injury is believed to be a sprained ankle and is not considered long-term.
- Late Sunday: Schefter reports the Raiders "are unsure how long he will be out," but the organization is "breathing a sigh of relief."
Why Jeanty's Ankle Matters: The Raiders' Backfield and the Stakes
Jeanty's rise from Boise State standout to franchise cornerstone has been swift. In 2024, he ran for 2,601 yards — the second-most in a single FBS season behind only Barry Sanders — and finished as the Heisman Trophy runner-up while winning both the Maxwell Award and the Doak Walker Award. The Raiders made him the sixth overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
He rewarded that investment as a rookie, carrying 266 times for 975 yards and 10 touchdowns across 17 games while totaling more than 1,300 yards from scrimmage, according to CBS Sports. Entering 2026, Jeanty is the clear engine of the offense alongside quarterback Fernando Mendoza.
That's precisely why the depth question looms so large. Behind Jeanty, the Raiders' running back room features Mike Washington Jr., Dare Ogunbowale, and Dylan Laube — a group with far less proven production. If Jeanty's sprained ankle lingers into the regular season, Las Vegas would be forced to lean on unproven options, as The Sporting News noted in framing the team as "short on running back depth."
Where Things Stand Now: Latest on Jeanty's Status
As of the latest reports, the Raiders have not set a firm timeline for Jeanty's return, but the organization's outlook is far brighter than the initial moments on the practice field suggested. "The Raiders still are unsure how long he will be out, but it is not considered a long-term injury and the organization is breathing a sigh of relief tonight," Schefter reported.
NFL.com framed the situation similarly, noting the injury "is not considered to be a long-term injury, but the timeline for his return is unknown." For a team that entered camp with its ambitions riding heavily on its young star, that uncertainty is a relief relative to the worst-case scenarios that circulated just hours earlier.
What's Next: Recovery Timeline and the Raiders' Plan
The Raiders open the regular season in a matter of weeks, and the team will likely take a cautious approach with its most valuable offensive asset. Sprained ankle recovery timelines can range from a matter of days to several weeks depending on severity — a detail the Raiders have not yet disclosed publicly.
In the meantime, expect Mike Washington Jr. and Dare Ogunbowale to see increased practice reps, and potentially a larger Week 1 workload, if Jeanty is not fully cleared. The team could also consider adding a veteran running back for insurance before the season begins. What is clear is that the Raiders will not rush Jeanty back and risk turning a short-term ankle sprain into something more serious.
The Bottom Line: Key Takeaways
- Ashton Jeanty suffered a sprained ankle during Raiders practice on Sunday and was helped off the field; teammates knelt in prayer.
- ESPN's Adam Schefter and NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported the injury is not considered long-term.
- The Raiders have not set a return timeline, and his Week 1 availability remains unclear.
- Jeanty is coming off a rookie season of 975 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns (more than 1,300 total scrimmage yards).
- Depth options behind him include Mike Washington Jr., Dare Ogunbowale, and Dylan Laube.
