Raiders Unveil Plans for Second-Year Running Back Ashton Jeanty

The Las Vegas Raiders offense will have a new look when it takes the field for the 2026 season.

Veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins will likely get the starting nod as No. 1 pick Fernando Mendoza learns the position from the sideline before potentially taking over later this season or in 2027. Both are new to the team, as is head coach Klint Kubiak, who made it clear the team will be leaning on a familiar face this season: running back Ashton Jeanty.

“We want to put a lot of pressure on Ashton,” Kubiak said, via the team's official site. “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.”

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Kubiak wants Jeanty on the field at all times, not just on first and second down. The new head coach likened Jeanty’s potential role to that of Christian McCaffrey of the San Francisco 49ers, who is a dual-threat out of the backfield.

“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. I don’t know the play-snap percentage, but you look at Christian McCaffrey, his play-snap percentage is high. So, those great backs, they don’t want to come off the field,” he said.

As a rookie, Jeanty racked up 975 yards on 266 carries for a measly 3.7 yards per carry – something that will likely change with a competent offense around him in 2026. He hauled in 55 receptions for 346 yards and scored 10 total touchdowns.

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