Las Vegas Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak announced during organized team activities on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, that the team plans to increase the offensive workload for second-year running back Ashton Jeanty.
Jeanty, a former first-round pick from Boise State, accumulated 1,321 scrimmage yards and 10 total touchdowns as a rookie despite playing behind a struggling offensive line.
Kubiak indicated that the coaching staff intends to heavily utilize Jeanty across multiple facets of the offense to maximize his production.
"We want to put a lot of pressure on Ashton," Kubiak said.
"The next guy that steps up, whoever that may be, that's going to be seen here in practice, OTAs and training camp, but we think we should continue to challenge Ashton and get more out of him."
The head coach drew comparisons to how elite running backs like Christian McCaffrey are used across the NFL.
"It's important to have a quality second back, but the best player has got to play, and we've got to get them on the field as much as we can," Kubiak said.
"You look at Christian McCaffrey, his play-snap percentage is high. So, those great backs, they don't want to come off the field."
According to Pro Football Reference, McCaffrey played 83 percent of offensive snaps last season, while Jeanty played 78 percent but had nearly 100 fewer total touches due to lower involvement in the passing game.
Jeanty welcomed the challenge of anchoring the backfield and expressed a desire to stay on the field as much as possible.
"I look forward to it a lot," Jeanty said.
"Obviously I want to help the team win as much as I can, and if I don't have to, I don't want to come off the field."
The second-year back has studied film of McCaffrey and Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III to adjust his skills to Kubiak's system.
"I've been watching them a lot," Jeanty said. "I've been watching Christian since college, watched Kenneth Walker III in college, too.
So, watching their NFL tape while running the same scheme they're running is super exciting."
Jeanty focused on developing specific physical attributes for both the running and passing structures during his offseason film study.
"In the run game, just being explosive off the ball, running great tracks, great footwork.
And then in the pass game, being an asset running great routes, and then protection of course, protecting the quarterback," Jeanty said.
The Raiders' backfield has undergone significant changes, adding veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins, rookie signal-caller Fernando Mendoza, and fourth-round draft pick Mike Washington Jr.
Jeanty praised Washington, who ran a 4.33-second 40-yard dash at the combine, saying, "He's going to be a great player for us.
I like how he's coming to work and just putting his head down and trying to get better each and every single day."
Jeanty also expressed confidence in Cousins' leadership and experience.
"Just great energy and, obviously, Kirk playing in the league a while, just that experience, leadership," Jeanty said.
"He's bringing that energy, and he's a passionate football player and everybody loves that."
Jeanty noted that Mendoza, despite being a rookie, can contribute to the offense.
"A rookie, but he did some special things in college," Jeanty said, "and he's going to continue to learn and help lead as well."
This offseason marks Jeanty's first complete period to regulate his professional training schedule and dietary habits.
"Yeah, I'd say just my routine," Jeanty said.
"Obviously, rookie year, you don't really get a true offseason so, still, even this year, this is my, like, first real one.
So figuring out how I want my diet to be, what time I want to train."
Pro Football Focus data showed Jeanty forced 23 missed tackles and scored five receiving touchdowns last year, with most of his passing game production occurring from Week 9 onward.
NFL all-time leading rusher Emmitt Smith criticized how the Raiders managed Jeanty during his rookie season.
"Just like kryptonite is Superman's weakness, a poor offensive line can be a running back's weakness, especially if you have jail breaks," Smith told Heavy Sports.
"You talk about Ashton Jeanty coming out of college and doing the things that he did in college, but he went to the Raiders."
Smith emphasized that the Raiders have historically drafted Heisman Trophy winners without establishing necessary front-line protection.
"That's all I have to say, he went to the Raiders. And the Raiders get enamored with Heisman Trophies.
You know how many Heisman Trophy winners that the Raiders have drafted?
And think about how many Heisman Trophy winners that they drafted are actually in the Hall of Fame," Smith told Heavy Sports.
The Raiders have selected five Heisman winners historically, including Hall of Famers Tim Brown, Charles Woodson, and Marcus Allen, along with Bo Jackson and Mendoza.
Smith said that while adding Mendoza will positively impact the offense, front-line upgrades remain imperative.
"And at the end of the day, this draft here is going to help Ashton Jeanty because he has a young quarterback that can be groomed into becoming a great quarterback," Smith told Heavy Sports.
"So that's a good thing."
Smith reiterated that individual talent cannot overcome systematic deficiencies in blocking and receiving personnel.
"But if you don't upgrade that offensive line, I don't care how good your first-round draft quarterback is or how good your first-round draft pick running back is, nothing is going to work, nothing," Smith told Heavy Sports.
Smith noted that the presence of minority owner Tom Brady provides valuable institutional knowledge.
"I mean, there's a lot of holes that need to be filled," Smith told Heavy Sports. "And it starts with the mindset that the organization needs to have.
They got Tom Brady now, so that's a good thing."
Smith maintained that Jeanty has the potential to be a 1,000-yard back for many years if given proper support.
"And I think Ashton Jeanty has the potential to be 1,000 yards back for many years to come.
But he cannot do that without the right system, the right coaching, and enough of the right players around him," Smith told Heavy Sports.
To address offensive line deficiencies, Las Vegas acquired free agent center Tyler Linderbaum to bolster protection for the upcoming campaign.
