The Las Vegas Raiders have a clear choice heading into Sunday’s home game against the Buffalo Bills: keep asking Ashton Jeanty (foot) to carry a struggling ground game, or give Mike Washington Jr. a meaningful share of the work. Jeanty was a full participant at practice all week being despite his injury, while the Raiders’ Week 6 depth chart lists Washington directly behind him
Locked On Raiders host Your Boy Q framed the workload split as part of the solution to Las Vegas’ larger rushing problem. Your Boy Q said the Raiders may need to open with quick passes and let quarterback Kirk Cousins challenge Buffalo through the air before trying to establish the run. The idea is to loosen the box, create cleaner lanes for Jeanty and keep the Bills from building the game plan around one ball carrier.
Your Boy Q’s bigger point was that Washington Jr. should see more than a token role. Washington is Jeanty’s primary backup on the current depth chart, but Your Boy Q said the rookie’s pass protection and receiving work have limited his snaps. He argued that those developmental concerns should not eliminate Washington from the game plan, particularly when the Raiders need a change of pace and want to reduce the strain on Jeanty.
That would require the Raiders to avoid making their personnel predictable. Your Boy Q noted that Washington’s appearances have often signaled a run, allowing defenses to crowd the line. Using him on play-action, screens or other passing concepts would force Buffalo to account for more than the handoff and could help Cousins find early completions.
The approach also fits the matchup. Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak said sustaining drives against Buffalo requires avoiding a one-dimensional offense. The Bills arrive at Allegiant Stadium 4-1, while Las Vegas is 3-2 after consecutive losses. For the Raiders, a steadier rotation between Jeanty and Washington would give the offense a better chance to possess the ball and keep Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen off the field.
Jeanty is the starter and Washington is the next option. Whether Kubiak gives the backup more than a situational role will be one of Sunday’s clearest offensive tells.
Raiders News and Notes
– Tight end Brock Bowers (knee) improved from limited participation Wednesday to full participation Thursday and Friday and has no injury designation heading into the game.
– Wide receiver Jalen Nailor (concussion) participated fully in practice on Friday and has no injury designation. Wide receiver Dont’e Thornton Jr. (hamstring), on the other, will not play despite being a full participant in practice all week.
Las Vegas Raiders Essentials
- The 5 best quarterbacks in Raiders history
- 5 best running backs in Raiders history
- 5 best wide receivers in Raiders history
- NFL’s richest owners: Where does Mark Davis rank?
- Tom Brady’s net worth, salary, and Raiders ownership
Some or all of this content may have been generated by AI. While we strive for accuracy, AI can occasionally produce incorrect information. If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission.
