Ashton Jeanty injury update after Raiders RB's early practice departure

Modern day poet Aubrey Graham, commonly known as Drake, once said a sprained ankle "ain't nothing to play with." The Las Vegas Raiders and second-year running back Ashton Jeanty took that to heart.

News of Jeanty's lower-body injury during practice on Sunday, Aug. 23 immediately sent shockwaves of panic through the Raiders fandom and fantasy football community. Hours later, NFL insider Ian Rapoport reported the running back sustained a sprained ankle. The severity of the ankle sprain appears to be relatively minor just two days later.

Rapoport reported on Tuesday, Aug. 25 that Jeanty's ankle sprain is "believed to be more low than high" and that it is not severe enough to be "considered a major injury." Rapoport said that while there's a chance the second-year back misses Week 1's game against the Miami Dolphins, the Raiders remain hopeful he'll be healthy enough by then.

ASHTON JEANTY: Raiders RB left practice after awkward landing

Jeanty played in all 17 games during his rookie campaign last year. Even before his NFL career began in 2025, the young running back hardly missed time. While at Boise State in 2023, Jeanty missed two games with a lower-body injury, but he's never been unavailable for a game due to injury before or since.

In Jeanty's final collegiate season, he finished the year with 2,601 rushing yards and 29 touchdowns and was the runner-up for the Heisman Trophy. The Raiders drafted Jeanty with the No. 6 overall pick in 2025, and he's expected to play a big role in rookie head coach Klint Kubiak's offense in 2026.

Here's what we know so far about Jeanty's recent ankle injury and his future outlook:

Ashton Jeanty injury update

Jeanty's lower-body injury may not be as serious as it seemed initially.

Rapoport, NFL insider for NFL Media and ESPN, reported on Sunday, Aug. 23 that the Raiders' running back reportedly suffered a sprained ankle. On Tuesday, Aug. 25, he reported that Jeanty's ankle sprain is "believed to be more low than high," which would indicate lower severity and a potential return coming sooner, rather than later.

Initial reports from Raiders practice on Aug. 23 were that the running back "landed awkwardly" and was unable to walk on his right leg. Trainers had to help Jeanty off of the field, and the "entire team took a knee and said a prayer" after he departed practice early.

Despite the initial panic, Jeanty appears to have avoided the worst.

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How long is Ashton Jeanty out?

The Raiders are "hopeful" that Jeanty will be ready to play by Week 1, according to Rapoport. The NFL insider also said that "there's a chance" the second-year running back will have to miss Week 1, but the team reportedly does not consider Jeanty's injury long term.

Las Vegas will host the Dolphins on Sept. 13 at 4:25 p.m. ET/1:25 p.m. PT in a Week 1 matchup. Jeanty will have had three weeks to the day after he first suffered the injury to recover in time for the season-opener.

According to an article posted by Harvard Medical School, recovery from an ankle sprain can take anywhere from 1 week to several months depending on its severity. A Grade 2 ankle sprain, which has symptoms that include "pain with weight bearing and walking," takes 3 to 6 weeks to recover from. A Grade 3 ankle sprain, which is symptomized by an inability to bear weight or walk, can take several months to fully heal.

Who is Ashton Jeanty's backup?

The Raiders' official team depth chart ahead of preseason Week 3 lists Mike Washington Jr. as Jeanty's backup. Dylan Laube, who was Las Vegas' primary kick returner in 2025, is listed as the third-string.

Washington was a fourth-round pick by the Raiders in the 2026 NFL Draft. The 23-year-old rookie played his final collegiate season at Arkansas after stops at Buffalo and New Mexico State.

In 2025, Washington set career highs in rush attempts (167), rushing yards (1,070), yards per carry (6.4), receptions (28) and receiving yards (228). He also matched a career high with eight rushing touchdowns.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ashton Jeanty injury update after Raiders RB's early practice departure