The Las Vegas Raiders are learning the hard way that a promising rookie running back isn’t enough to fix a broken football team. Ashton Jeanty came into the season with plenty of hype - and for good reason.
The former Boise State standout has the kind of burst, balance, and vision that turns heads. But through 14 games, it’s clear: the Raiders haven’t just underutilized Jeanty - they’ve put him in a situation where development is nearly impossible.
Let’s be blunt: this offensive line has been a disaster. Protection has been inconsistent, lanes have been rare, and Jeanty has spent most of his rookie year getting hit behind the line of scrimmage or fighting for scraps.
For a young back trying to find his footing in the league, that’s a tough environment to grow in. He’s learning what it means to take NFL hits - a lot of them - but not much else in terms of scheme, rhythm, or real-time decision-making in a functioning offense.
And that’s the core issue in Vegas right now. On one hand, you want Jeanty to get reps.
Let him learn, let him make mistakes, let him adjust to the speed of the league. But when those reps come in games that are already out of reach, behind an offensive line that can’t hold its ground, you start to wonder: are these carries helping, or just wearing him down?
Week 15 was another low point. The Raiders were shut out by the Philadelphia Eagles, 31-0 - the second time this season they’ve been blanked by that exact score.
That’s not just a loss. That’s a statement about where this team is right now.
After the game, Jeanty didn’t sugarcoat anything.
"That was an embarrassing performance by us, as a team."
There’s not much else to say. Jeanty, who rarely lost during his time at Boise State, is now navigating the harsh reality of life on a team that’s spiraling. When asked if this was a breaking point, his response was as honest as it was telling:
"I wouldn't say a breaking point, we're still losing. At the end of the day, the breaking point would be us getting a win and playing better than we did today."
That’s a heavy quote. Imagine being so deep into a losing culture that a win would feel like a breaking point.
That’s where the Raiders are. And Jeanty, just 14 games into his NFL career, already sees the cracks in the foundation.
The truth is, this isn’t just about a young running back. It’s about a franchise that’s stuck in neutral, if not reverse.
Until the Raiders invest in the trenches - on both sides of the ball - nothing’s going to change. Until they find a coaching staff with a clear identity and a quarterback who can lead, they’ll keep spinning their wheels.
Jeanty, along with tight end Brock Bowers and defensive anchor Maxx Crosby, should be central to whatever rebuild comes next. But make no mistake: it’s going to be a rebuild. Sunday’s loss to the Eagles didn’t just expose flaws - it underlined just how far this team is from being competitive.
For now, Jeanty keeps showing up, taking hits, and speaking truth. He’s part of the future in Las Vegas.
But if the Raiders want that future to mean anything, they’ve got to start building something real around him. Because wasting talent like his?
That’s a mistake no franchise can afford to keep making.