Ashton Jeanty returned to practice on Wednesday for the first time since Aug. 23, clearing the way for Jeanty to play in the Raiders’ season opener against the Dolphins.
The Raiders watched their starting running back go down with an ankle injury near the end of training camp. Despite Jeanty’s lack of practice, the Raiders operated as though he would be back in time for Week 1.
Las Vegas only carried three running backs on the 53-man roster, indicating that Jeanty would be good to go. Last week Kubiak said he was optimistic Jeanty would play. Now that the lead back has returned to practice, Jeanty is looking at playing.
Head coach Klint Kubiak would not disclose any more information about Jeanty’s status, even declining to say if Jeanty would be a limited or full participant in practice.
But prior to Wednesday, Jeanty’s only work during practice had been off to the side by himself.
Reduced Role
Jeanty’s ankle injury creates an interesting question for the Raiders. This is expected to be a rebuilding season in Las Vegas. Will they give Jeanty a full workload in his first game back from an injury?
Fourth-round rookie Mike Washington popped in preseason, giving the Raiders a backup plan if Jeanty is unable to play. Las Vegas could limit Jeanty and get a look at Washington in a real NFL game.
Soft Week 1 Opponent
One other factor for Jeanty’s Week 1 return is the level of opponent. The Dolphins are one of the few teams projected to be worse than the Raiders this season. It may be one of the few times the Raiders can play with a lead.
That is the perfect time to lean on a running game and a star running back. If the Raiders feel like they need to salt the game away with their best back, Jeanty might keep Washington off the field.
If the Raiders can actually build a big lead, Jeanty could be afforded a chance to watch while the score is out of hand. The perfect chance for Washington to put the game away.
But for a team that has seven wins over the last two seasons, banking on having a lead may not be realistic.
