Ashton Jeanty didn’t see a single touch through the opening quarter-plus of the Raiders’ Week 8 matchup with the Jets, and the split was hard to miss. Las Vegas had already been on the field for three drives, but Jeanty was still stuck at zero carries and zero touches while backup Mike Washington handled the work.
Jeanty was on the field, though not in the way Raiders fans are used to seeing. He was showing up only on third downs, which meant he technically wasn’t benched outright.
As SNY’s Connor Hughes put it, “Ashton Jeanty still does not have a touch as the #Raiders begin their second offensive series. He's been checking on third downs,”
The usage raised obvious questions. Was this a one-game message from head coach Klint Kubiak?
Jeanty has been one of the Raiders’ most heavily used players this season, so the sudden shift stood out. His 2026 season has also been rocky, though the source material notes the offensive line has not helped him much either.
There’s also the matter of what Jeanty said earlier in the week. He took a shot at the Jets’ defense on Wednesday, saying, “Couple of guys out there that don’t really want to tackle, but I’m not going to say names,” Jeanty said of the Jets' defense last Wednesday.
“I think we can definitely get the run game going. Get back on track and just really get after these guys.”
Then came the update: Jeanty finally got his first touch on the Raiders’ first drive of the second quarter, and it came on an early down. That makes the early drought look less like a full benching and more like a quarter-long punishment before he was returned to his usual role.
In Other News...
Braelon Allen Is Forcing A Jets Debate They Didnt Expect
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For the Jets, the path is pretty clear: get Garrett Wilson more involved, protect the football and hope Omar Cooper Jr. can keep giving the passing game a lift. The offense has been uneven enough that every possession matters, and with both teams searching for answers, New York cannot afford another sluggish start if it wants to keep the season from drifting further off course. [Read more 🡒]
Jets Showed Just Enough To Make This Loss Even More Frustrating
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Aaron Glenns defense could not hold up after halftime, and special teams under Chris Banjo added to the damage with a rough day that included a kick return touchdown allowed. Jarvis Brownlee also drew criticism for penalties and coverage issues, another reminder that the margin for error is razor thin for a team already digging out of a deep hole. [Read more 🡒]