Ashton Jeanty’s Rough Start: Is the Raiders’ Rookie All Hype?

Well, that didn’t take long. Two weeks into the NFL season, and the Las Vegas Raiders’ prized rookie, Ashton Jeanty, is already under the social media microscope. After a less-than-stellar performance on Monday Night Football against the Los Angeles Chargers, fans and analysts are starting to wonder if the No. 6 overall pick is living up to the hype. And honestly, after watching that play, can you blame them?

It was a night to forget for Jeanty and the Raiders. Not only did his usage dip significantly from Week 1, but his effort—or lack thereof—on a crucial pass protection play went viral. And not in a good way.

What’s the Deal with Ashton Jeanty’s Effort?

Picture this: It’s Monday Night Football. Your team is struggling. Your quarterback, Geno Smith, is scrambling for his life, trying to make something, anything, happen. And where’s his rookie running back, the guy who’s supposed to have his back? Casually jogging in the background, watching the chaos unfold like he’s a spectator who paid for a front-row seat. Oof.

Former NFL player Clay Harbor posted the clip on X, and it spread like wildfire. The caption was simple and brutal: “Ashton Jeanty casually letting his QB get rocked. He’s not looking good in pass pro.” And he wasn’t wrong. On that play, Jeanty looked completely disinterested, a far cry from the player we saw just a week ago.

Against the Patriots in Week 1, Jeanty was praised for his pass-blocking. He was a bulldog, picking up blitzers and giving his quarterback precious extra seconds in the pocket. Clips from that game showed a player who took pride in the gritty, unglamorous side of being a running back. So, what changed in a week? Was he frustrated with his reduced role? Was it just a mental lapse? Whatever the reason, it was a bad look for a top draft pick.

Jeanty’s Disappearing Act

It’s one thing to miss a block. It happens. It’s another thing to look like you’re not even trying. This single play was symptomatic of a larger issue for Jeanty on Monday night: he just wasn’t involved.

In the season opener, Jeanty was the workhorse, getting 19 carries. Against the Chargers? He only touched the ball 11 times. As the Raiders fell behind, the run game was abandoned, and Jeanty found himself on the sidelines watching Zamir White and Dylan Laube take over on passing downs. You have to wonder if his lackluster pass protection played a role in that decision. If the coaches can’t trust you to protect the quarterback, you’re not going to see the field in critical situations. It’s that simple.

For a player drafted so high, this kind of performance raises some serious red flags. The transition from college star at Boise State to the NFL isn’t easy for anyone, but top-10 picks are expected to make an immediate impact, not become a liability.

Taking Ownership: Jeanty Faces the Music

Credit where it’s due: after the game, Jeanty didn’t hide. He stood in front of the media and took full responsibility for his team’s—and his own—shortcomings.

“We didn’t protect for the quarterback,” he admitted. “Us as running backs, we could’ve done a better job at picking up some of those blitzes… I’ve got to be a lot better.”

When asked about the running game struggles, he didn’t point fingers. “Last week, (the running game issues) were on me… I’ll put it on myself again this week.”

This is the kind of accountability you want to see from a young player. It’s easy to be a star when everything’s going right, but true character is revealed in how you handle adversity. Recognizing his mistakes is the first step. Now, he has to prove he can learn from them. Earning back the trust of the coaching staff, particularly offensive coordinator Chip Kelly, won’t happen with words alone. It will happen on the practice field and, most importantly, on game day.

Jeanty seems to understand that. He knows that his performance, especially in pass protection, will dictate his playing time. It’s a positive sign that he’s not making excuses. But actions speak louder than words, and Raider Nation will be watching closely to see if he can back them up. One bad game doesn’t define a career, but for a top pick like Ashton Jeanty, the pressure is on to make sure it doesn’t become a pattern.