Ashton Jeanty picked an unusual time to speak bluntly, and the timing made the message land even harder. With the Raiders heading into Week 8 against the Jets at MetLife Stadium, the running back made it clear he expects a physical response on Sunday.
Jeanty didn’t point to anyone by name, but he made his feelings known after Wednesday’s practice when he took a shot at some of the defenders waiting for him in New York.
“Couple guys out there that don’t really want to tackle, but I’m not gonna say names,” Jeanty said after Wednesday’s practice.
He added, “I think we can definitely get the run game going, get back on track. Just really get after these guys.”
Jeanty’s comments stood out because they are not the sort of thing he usually puts out there. He hasn’t been known for making loud declarations, and he generally hasn’t been the kind of player to hand an opponent extra motivation.
Still, the Jets now have something to hang onto from Jeanty’s remarks, and their defense is sure to notice. The matchup already carried at least one built-in edge with Geno Smith on the other sideline, and Jeanty’s comments only sharpened the tone heading into Sunday.
There’s also the football side of it, and that’s where the stakes really sit for Jeanty and the Raiders. Their running game has struggled badly, which is why a public challenge like this feels risky in the first place. But if there was ever a week to speak up, this is it.
Now the question is whether Jeanty’s words can turn into production and finally give the Raiders’ ground game the kind of jolt it has been missing.
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