Las Vegas Raiders rookie running back Ashton Jeanty will make his NFL preseason debut Thursday night against the Seattle Seahawks, and the buzz surrounding his arrival in the league is only growing louder. Selected sixth overall in the 2025 NFL Draft—the highest for a running back since 2018—Jeanty brings with him a resume of dominance, versatility, and undeniable upside. The Raiders hope he is the missing piece to jumpstart a rushing attack that finished dead last in the NFL a year ago.
Jeanty isn’t walking into a situation where he needs to prove his worth—he’s expected to deliver immediately. Head coach Pete Carroll, now leading the Raiders after his legendary run in Seattle, has been unequivocal in his praise: “Ashton looks every bit what we had hoped he would look like. He caught the ball really well, he understood stuff, took everything really seriously, gave terrific effort throughout. And we made a big deal to him—everybody’s watching you, you know—and he embraced the thought of it.”
Ashton Jeanty Hype Train Picking Up Steam Ahead Of Raiders TNF Debut
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Jeanty earned that spotlight. The Boise State product nearly broke Barry Sanders’ single-season NCAA rushing record last fall, finishing with 2,601 rushing yards and 2,750 all-purpose yards. He led the country in rushing attempts and forced a staggering 151 missed tackles. The accolades followed: a Heisman runner-up finish, the Doak Walker Award, and universal acclaim from scouts praising his low center of gravity, elite contact balance, and scheme versatility.
Despite all of that, Jeanty’s top-six selection defied modern NFL draft convention. Former NFL running back Robert Turbin, however, believes the Raiders got it right. “[Ashton Jeanty] can win Offensive Rookie of the Year. I think that’s a realistic expectation,” Turbin told NFL on CBS. “He has all the talent in the world to become a great player in the NFL.”
So far, the early returns are promising. NFL insider Jordan Schultz noted that Jeanty has been “turning heads in a major way” at Raiders training camp. “The pre-draft buzz around his elite contact balance, explosiveness and natural feel as a runner wasn’t just hype. The Raiders are already seeing it all come to life. Truly a special player.”
Jeanty isn’t alone in the backfield. Veterans Raheem Mostert and Zamir White will help shoulder the load, while younger options like Sincere McCormick and Chris Collier look to carve out roles during the preseason. Offensive coordinator Chip Kelly, known for his creativity, has begun experimenting with Jeanty split out wide, catching passes, and motioning pre-snap—hints at the kind of diverse usage the rookie might see.
In tonight’s matchup at Lumen Field, Carroll confirmed that starters will see the field. Jeanty is expected to get his first live reps alongside new starting quarterback Geno Smith. The veteran has embraced the new-look offense and expressed confidence in Jeanty’s role within it.
The Raiders didn’t just bet on talent when they drafted Jeanty; they bet on a culture shift. With Carroll at the helm, Geno under center, and Jeanty leading a rebuilt ground game, Las Vegas is signaling that the rebuild is over. The preseason may not count in the standings, but for Jeanty and the Raiders, the journey toward redemption begins tonight.