Las Vegas Raiders manager Klint Kubiak and wide manager John Spytek are truthful successful sync, they leaned connected the aforesaid terminology this week describing ailing moving backmost Ashton Jeanty. “On the mend” is the word they utilized to measure the standout second-year rusher.
That doesn’t mean helium won’t play Week 1 against the Miami Dolphins astatine Allegiant Stadium.
Never 1 to beryllium wasteful with words, Kubiak acknowledged Wednesday day he’s optimistic Jeanty volition beryllium cleared to play Sept. 13 successful the play opener. After archetypal relaying the institution enactment helium debuted past week erstwhile archetypal asked astir Jeanty — noting he’s “continuing to improve” but “still connected the mend” — helium was asked if he’s optimistic he’ll play versus Miami.
“Yes,” helium said done a subtle smirk.
Jeanty sustained a sprained close ankle a week agone Sunday during grooming campy portion attempting to drawback a walk successful the level thrown by backmost Kirk Cousins, named the starter by Kubiak this week. The Raiders kneeled successful soundlessness and supplication arsenic Jeanty was helped disconnected their indoor signifier tract without putting value connected his close limb — making for a comparatively somber scene.
His diagnosis offered the Raiders relief.
Rookie moving backmost Mike Washington Jr. for the astir portion manned Jeanty’s station with the first-team discourtesy successful consequent practices unfastened to reporters, blending astatine his size, speed, powerfulness and detonation arsenic helium has passim the people of preseason play. If Jeanty isn’t cleared contempt Kubiak’s hope, he’s poised to carnivore the brunt of the workload arsenic the featured moving backmost successful his zone-run scheme.
A fourth-round draught pick, Washington rushed successful 3 preseason games for 168 yards connected 23 carries (7.3 yards per rush), bolstered successful portion by a 53-yard burst successful the opener Aug. 13 against the Arizona Cardinals.
“(Kubiak) stood connected a array for that kid astatine the commencement of Day 3 (of the NFL draft), and this is the cleanable strategy acceptable and we tin marque this subordinate into a bully player,” Spytek said Tuesday during his preseason quality conference.
“Mike has surely had a large preseason. Nobody’s taken that distant from him. But it gets precise existent precise accelerated present now. But I deliberation we’re each excited astir the way that Mike is on, and I deliberation we person an anticipation that he’s going to assistance america triumph shot games this year.”
Maybe arsenic the featured moving backmost if Jeanty isn’t yet acceptable to play. Maybe arsenic a sidekick to the shifty speedster, whom the Raiders could easiness into his regular workload. Either way, the Raiders anticipation Jeanty (266 carries, 975 yards successful 2025) tin play a relation against Miami — beryllium it arsenic a bell-cow oregon timeshare back.
“Mike (has) had a coagulated camp. He’s got a large play up of him, conscionable similar a batch of these rookies that we’re counting on,” Kubiak said.
“Every twelvemonth successful the draft, there’s guys that you’re funny in, and past there’s guys that possibly you’re not, and sometimes the guys you’re not go your champion players. That’s the happening astir the NFL, which is truthful large …. So, I’m conscionable looking guardant to proceed to make him.”
Contact Sam Gordon astatine sgordon@reviewjournal.com. Follow @BySamGordon connected X.
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