Disaster appears to have been avoided at Las Vegas Raiders training camp, as running back Ashton Jeanty has reportedly only suffered a sprained ankle when initial indications suggested that something way worse had occurred.
The full extent of Jeanty's injury is not known yet, as head coach Klint Kubiak won't speak to the media until Tuesday. But recovery timelines for ankle injuries can be wide-ranging depending on severity and location. Maybe Jeanty is ready for Week 1, or maybe he ends up missing a month.
Frankly, based on what we've seen already, Kubiak's response when he's inevitably asked about Jeanty's status isn't likely to offer a whole lot of clarity. While it's possible all still won't quite be known at that point, Kubiak won't say anything of real substance, even if he does know something concrete.
All of this, however, has a Fernando Mendoza tentacle to it.
Ashton Jeanty's injury outlook stands to impact Fernando Mendoza
The No. 1 topic around the Raiders, even in light of Jeanty's injury, is when rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza will start during the 2026 NFL season. Kirk Cousins' performance and health are big factors in that timeline, but the No. 1 overall pick will not be rushed; that has been made clear.
If the structure around Mendoza is not the best that it can be, he will, and arguably should, remain on the bench. No one needs a David Carr 2.0. situation where a No. 1 overall pick signal-caller was hit and sacked so much early in his career that he never became what he could've been.
Should Jeanty miss games early in the year, any other running back the Raiders currently have on their roster, or anyone they could sign or trade for if they go that way, is going to be a downgrade to fill the void.
Yep, I said it, Mike Washington Jr. truthers. Any running back the Raiders have or could bring is not as good as Jeanty, and it's not particularly close.
With that in mind, and with the acknowledgement of the Raiders' plan to start the season with Cousins under center anyway, Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer had a brief note regarding Jeanty's injury situation that could mean quite a bit.
"Ashton Jeanty’s injury certainly could impact when the Raiders turn to quarterback Fernando Mendoza,” Breer wrote. “A big part of the decision on when to play the rookie, I’ve been told, will be tied to the rest of the offense’s ability to support him. Losing running back Jeanty is a big blow in that regard.”
With the idea that Mendoza may not start in September or beyond anyway, any time Jeanty might miss could be a moot point when it comes to the timeline for a quarterback transition to happen. But it is an interesting tentacle to consider as we await clarity on Jeanty's status.
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