The Las Vegas Raiders received encouraging news regarding Ashton Jeanty's health as the team prepares for Sunday's matchup against the Buffalo Bills.
After spending much of the season dealing with foot and ankle injuries, the second-year running back appears to be making significant progress.
Speaking with reporters at his locker Thursday, Jeanty said he was feeling great and that this was the best he had felt all season, according to ESPN reporter Ryan McFadden.
The news comes just one day after questions surfaced about whether Las Vegas would consider resting Jeanty to allow his injuries additional time to heal. However, Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak quickly dismissed that possibility Wednesday, making it clear that the team expects its starting running back to be available against Buffalo.
"He's playing," Kubiak said when asked about potentially sitting Jeanty.
Kubiak also noted that Jeanty was making progress in his recovery, raising the possibility that he could take on a larger workload during practice.
Jeanty's comments Thursday offered further encouragement, suggesting that the running back is beginning to feel more comfortable after battling injuries throughout the season.
The former Boise State standout first suffered an ankle injury during training camp in August. While he recovered in time for the regular season, the issue has continued to linger, making it difficult for him to play at full strength.
Jeanty appeared to aggravate the ankle during Las Vegas' Week 4 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs before dealing with an additional foot issue ahead of last Sunday's matchup against the New England Patriots.
Despite those concerns, the 22-year-old has continued to play.
Jeanty was listed as questionable against New England after missing Friday's practice but was ultimately cleared to participate. However, his production was limited in the Raiders' 45-17 loss.
He finished with 27 rushing yards on 10 carries while adding three receptions for 50 yards. The performance continued a frustrating stretch for a player who entered the season with high expectations following a promising rookie campaign.
Through five games, Jeanty has rushed for 291 yards on 88 carries, averaging 3.3 yards per attempt. He has also contributed 22 receptions for 215 yards and two touchdowns, remaining an important part of Las Vegas' passing attack.
While his receiving production has been encouraging, the Raiders have struggled to establish consistency on the ground.
Those issues extend beyond Jeanty's health.
Las Vegas has had difficulty creating running lanes, placing additional pressure on its offensive line to improve as the season progresses. Kubiak acknowledged those struggles earlier this week, emphasizing that the coaching staff must find ways to improve the team's run blocking.
Getting a healthier Jeanty back into the offense could provide a significant boost.
The Raiders selected Jeanty with the sixth overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft after an outstanding college career at Boise State. His combination of power, balance and explosiveness made him one of the most highly regarded running back prospects in recent years.
Although injuries have limited his effectiveness this season, the Raiders continue to view him as a central piece of their offensive plans. His availability becomes even more important as Las Vegas prepares to face a Buffalo team entering Week 6 with a 4-1 record.
The Raiders are 3-2 after consecutive losses and will be looking to get back on track in front of their home crowd at Allegiant Stadium.
Establishing a productive rushing attack could help take pressure off quarterback Kirk Cousins while allowing Las Vegas to maintain offensive balance.
There is also encouraging news on the practice field.
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Jeanty was listed as a full participant in Wednesday's practice, with his ankle injury no longer appearing on the Raiders' injury report. However, he remained listed with a foot injury, leaving his health something the team will continue to monitor.
Still, the latest developments are encouraging for Las Vegas. After battling injuries throughout the opening weeks of the season, Jeanty appears to be making progress toward returning to full strength.
The next step will be translating that improvement into production on the field.
With the Raiders looking to bounce back from consecutive losses, a healthier Jeanty could provide a much-needed boost to the offense as Las Vegas prepares to host Buffalo on Sunday.