Klint Kubiak made it clear the Raiders’ decision to lean on Mike Washington Jr. in Week 8 was his call, not a punishment for Ashton Jeanty.
After Las Vegas beat the New York Jets, Kubiak addressed the workload split and said Jeanty remains central to what the Raiders want to do.
“Yeah, you know guys, that's my call, and Ashton's still gonna be a big part of our team. Had a huge catch, he's gonna be a huge part of our run game going forward, and, you know, we just wanna give Mike a few more opportunities a day, and, you know, I think both guys are going to be a huge part of our rushing and passing success moving forward.”
When asked directly whether Jeanty’s pregame comments about the Jets had anything to do with his reduced carries, Kubiak answered “no.”
Washington Jr. handled the ground game with 25 carries for 83 yards, while Jeanty still made his presence felt as a receiver, catching three passes for 64 yards. Kirk Cousins leaned on Jeanty, along with tight ends Brock Bowers and Michael Mayer, in the passing game as the Raiders took care of a struggling New York team.
The win also featured Brock Bowers setting a mark not seen since 2016, and Jeanty’s pregame jab at the Jets drew attention beyond the locker room. Rex Ryan called him out afterward, another sign that the Raiders still know how to command the national spotlight. Jeanty, though, will get another shot to make noise soon enough.
In Other News...
Kirk Cousins Gave Raiders Fans A New Reason To Love Sunday
Kirk Cousins gave Raiders fans a jolt Sunday in New York, steering a comeback win that felt like the kind of road result this team has been hunting for. After falling behind at halftime, Las Vegas settled in behind Cousins, who topped 200 passing yards and threw three touchdown passes in a 38-33 victory over the Jets, with scoring strikes going to Brock Bowers and Michael Mayer.
The performance also came with a few wrinkles worth watching beyond the final score. Coach Klint Kubiak addressed Ashton Jeantys limited workload, while Mike Washington Jr. handled the heavier lift in the run game and finished with 25 carries for 83 yards, giving the offense a different look as it worked to keep pace and close out the afternoon. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Escaped With A Win But Their Secondary Has A New Problem
The Raiders left New York with a win in Week 8, but the trip did little to quiet the concerns around a secondary that was under pressure for much of the afternoon. Las Vegas survived a second-half comeback from the Jets, yet the defense spent too much time on its heels, and the issues in coverage were hard to ignore even with the result in hand.
Eric Stokes was at the center of it, as the Jets kept testing the cornerback and found enough success to keep their offense moving. He was not the only one having a rough day in the back end, either, with other Raiders defenders also struggling to slow down New York's passing game. The victory matters in the standings, but the tape will give this coaching staff plenty to sort through before the next game. [Read more 🡒]
Brock Bowers Is Giving Raiders Fans Real Reason To Believe Again
The Raiders 38-33 win over the Jets in Week 8 offered more than just a needed step back to .500. It also gave Las Vegas another glimpse of how Brock Bowers can tilt a game in ways defenses do not always expect, with the rookie working outside and making himself a problem all over the field. Kirk Cousins did his part as well, throwing for 247 yards and three touchdowns to help push the Raiders to 4-4.
What stood out most was the way Bowers was deployed, because it was not the usual tight end usage that most teams can easily game-plan around. His production from an outside alignment added a wrinkle the Raiders can keep leaning on, and it came in a performance that placed him in rare company for the position. For a team trying to build real momentum, that kind of versatility is exactly the sort of development that can change the conversation around the rest of the season. [Read more 🡒]