Raiders rookie Jeanty shines in preseason

Rookie running back Ashton Jeanty shows toughness and plays like he belongs in the NFL after a scare in the Raiders' preseason game against the 49ers.

Jeanty Arrives For Raiders In Preseason

In Saturday’s preseason game against the 49ers, Raiders rookie running back Ashton Jeanty briefly left the field after a hard hit, then returned and kept working. He finished with seven carries for 33 yards and one catch, and he capped the drive with a 13-yard run that went through cornerback Deommodore Lenoir before powering into the end zone for his first preseason touchdown.

Jeanty started with negative yardage on his first preseason action, then found a rhythm as the game progressed. The Raiders praised his toughness after the showcase, and Jeanty himself said the day showed he belongs in the NFL. He described a little stinger on the opening drive but stressed the bigger takeaway was his readiness to contribute for the team.

Jeanty’s performance matters more for the message it sends than for any single stat. It signals the Raiders are building a deeper backfield and a potential early contributor behind the likely starter. His combination of power and burst on a scoring run suggests he could offer a different look than the more explosive options in the rotation. Still, preseason numbers are the real test of durability and consistency, not hype. The episode also underscores how quickly early reports can lift a rookie’s profile, reminding readers that a single game is far from a verdict on long-term impact.

Looking ahead, Jeanty’s next steps matter: can he translate this moment into sustained practice results, maintain health, and keep proving he belongs as the Raiders push to solidify depth at running back? If he keeps growing, the team gains a reliable option that could pay dividends later in the season.

Highlights

Momentum is earned in practice and on the field, not in headlines.