Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty was asked by reporters on Wednesday if he’s ready to shoulder a larger workload. His answer won’t come as much of a surprise.
“I don’t think you draft a guy like me to not give me carries and touches,” he said. “I’m ready for the responsibility. Like I said, it’s going to start with me in the run game and I’ve got to continue to get better.”
Jeanty has been given 30 carries through two games, rushing for 81 yards and a touchdown. It’s been a modest start to his NFL career, though his offensive line hasn’t exactly opened up running lanes with any consistency.
He also hasn’t been a major factor in the passing game (five catches for three yards), and some of his pass protection has looked pretty rough on tape:
But the Raiders will continue to get him more involved. Head coach Pete Carroll has said as much.
“He ran the ball well. I thought he hit stuff well,” he told reporters. “He went the wrong way on a play and so that was unfortunate, it messes up the whole play—Geno [Smith] goes this way, he goes that way. He’s still getting it. We’ve got a ways to go here. And I have no problem telling you that. He’s going to get better and get more comfortable. He felt more comfortable in this game, he looked good running the football, and we just need to get it to him more.”
