In his first two NFL games, Las Vegas Raiders rookie running back Ashton Jeanty hasn’t had more than 19 carries. He recorded 19 carries in the Week 1 win against the New England Patriots but saw that number drop to 11 in the Week 2 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers.
Moreover, Jeanty hasn’t managed to break 50 rushing yards in a game, making for a challenging start to his NFL career. With the Raiders under fire over their usage of Jeanty, Indianapolis Colts star Jonathan Taylor stated that the rookie running back is transitioning from college to the pros.
“It’s definitely a transition,” Taylor said on the September 17 edition of the “Rich Eisen Show.” “I mean, you talk about, obviously, playing in a big conference, a tough conference, but now you’re playing with the best among the best, and being able to not only transition to that type of physical transition.
“It’s a mental aspect as well. Now you’re going against elite defenses with elite players. So, schemes change, as well as offenses. Now, you’re learning more intricate details with offenses in order to handle these different defenses.”
Colts’ Jonathan Taylor Gives Advice to Ashton Jeanty
While the transition phase, going from college to the pros, can be a challenge for a running back, Taylor did offer advice for Jeanty to ensure that he doesn’t stumble and go down the route of a draft bust.
“So, it’s a lot to be thrown at a person, especially when you transition from being the guy to now trying to work your way into being a guy for your new current team,“ Taylor added. “And it’s going to take reps. It’s only week two.
“It’s going to take reps, and eventually, you know, it’ll come and it’ll click as you continue to study, as you continue to get those reps on the field. But it’s definitely a transition, and you have to be mentally disciplined in order to fight that learning curve.”
Jeanty will likely take the words from one of the top players at his position to help him navigate that tough start to life in the NFL. Nonetheless, the player is also keen on breaking out of this challenging situation.
Raiders Star Ready for More Responsibility
The Raiders are managing just 62.0 rushing yards per game through their first two games, ranking second-worst in the NFL. Jeanty, who’s accustomed to carrying a heavy workload, is facing a new challenge. He made it clear to the Raiders that drafting him so high wouldn’t make sense if he wasn’t going to get the ball.
“I don’t think you draft a guy like me to not give me carries and touches,“ Jeanty told reporters on September 17. “I’m ready for the responsibility … and it’s gonna start from me in the run game, and I gotta continue to get better.”
It’s only the second game of his career, and the Raiders have already gone up against some of the league’s toughest run defenses. With the Washington Commanders having ranked third-worst against the run last season, this might be the perfect opportunity for Jeanty to make a significant impact.
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