The Las Vegas Raiders extended their struggles in the 2025 NFL season with a fourth consecutive loss, falling 33-16 to the Dallas Cowboys on November 17 at Allegiant Stadium.
Furthermore, the running game was especially underwhelming. Ashton Jeanty carried the ball six times for just seven yards, while the team totaled only 27 rushing yards.
After picking Jeanty sixth overall in the 2025 NFL Draft, many expected him to play a central role in Las Vegas’ offense, but that opportunity has yet to materialize.
In the latest edition of “1 on 1” that was published on November 19, Raiders head coach Pete Carroll explained the lack of touches for Jeanty in the loss to the Cowboys.
“We did want to throw the ball early, and we wanted to go after these guys a little bit and see if we could, knowing that it was going to be a hard game to stop them, their top offense and all that,” Carroll said.
“So that was part of it, and we hoped to work our way into the running game, but the score went the other way and put us behind enough where it kept us in the mode that we have to keep throwing the football down the field some.
“On that night, he doesn’t get the football as much. We did throw the ball to him well, and he did some nice stuff with that, but just not enough for the balance that you like. The balance doesn’t have to happen in the first quarter. The balance has to happen by the time you make it through the game, and sometimes the game dictates opportunities, and you’ve got to take advantage of them.”
Ashton Jeanty Looks to Be Frustrated After Cowboys Game
After the loss to Dallas, Jeanty was asked about the lack of touches in the contest. Nonetheless, while he kept his composure, it appeared he was frustrated with how the season is going for him so far.
“I don’t call the plays, ” Jeanty told reporters postgame. “I mean, that’s up to the guys upstairs. So I just take whatever I get… Just continue to trust in my faith, trust in God and his plan for me. Obviously it’s not going the way I want it to, but it’s already written, and whatever is in the future will happen, but I just got to continue to keep going and finish the year strong.”
Raiders Get Called Out Over Drafting Ashton Jeanty
Through the first part of the 2025 NFL season, Jeanty has only rushed for over 100 yards once. He also struggled with his stance, eventually reverting back after offensive coordinator Chip Kelly suggested a more traditional setup.
As a result, NBC Sports NFL insider Mike Florio is questioning the decision to spend a high draft pick on Jeanty if the team didn’t have the right pieces in place to support him.
“You use the sixth overall pick on a player, and it reminded me of when the Jets signed Le’Veon Bell,” Florio said on the November 18 edition of “Pro Football Talk Live.” “You don’t build a team from the outside in; you build it from the inside out, [and] you don’t go get a potential game-breaking running back if you don’t have the pieces to get the most out of them.
“If you don’t have an offensive line, it doesn’t matter. And he’s not Barry Sanders. Barry Sanders didn’t need an offensive line. I remember as the draft was approaching, Chris Simms pointed out Ashton Jeanty looked dominant, but when you put him up against Penn State, it wasn’t the same as it was against the teams Boise State usually plays.
“So you bring him to the NFL, and maybe he’s not going to be that game breaker. You need the other pieces in place to let a great running back be great.”
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Raiders’ Pete Carroll Gives Blunt Words Over Ashton Jeanty Usage appeared first on Heavy Sports.