Back when Pete Carroll was running the Seahawks, Marshawn Lynch was his star back—the kind of player that Ashton Jeanty, the Raiders’ rookie RB, grew up watching and admiring. Fast forward to now, Carroll’s the HC in Vegas, and Jeanty is supposed to be his go-to back. But in the Week 2 matchup against the Chargers, the rookie couldn’t quite light it up the way Lynch used to.

The No. 6 overall pick finished the game with just 43 yards on 11 carries, averaging 3.9 yards per carry. The signs were clear: the Raiders’ run game was supposed to be their strength this season with Jeanty in the backfield, but it eventually came out flat when it mattered most.

Carroll’s team sidelined the 21-year-old for the final couple of drives, as Zamir White and Dylan Laube stepped in his place. While Carroll had his own reasons, the team’s decision surely raised some eyebrows. Leading the chorus was Eddie Borsilli of the Yards Per Attempt podcast.

“Ashton Jeanty is 21. The 6th pick in the draft. Had 2k yards last year in college. Yet, he’s on the sideline when the Raiders are down by 2 scores. Make it make sense. Keep good players on the field,” he shared via his ‘X’ handle. Well, the Raiders were down 17-6 at halftime, and Carroll decided to scrap the run game in the second half.

Turned out, Jeanty ended up off the field for the final two drives. That’s where Borsilli’s points hit hard: when your team is down by two scores, why bench the back who ran over 2,500 yards in his final college season? The reasons are many. The 2025 NFL season is already a couple of weeks old, and if there’s one thing in Vegas that’s been raising concerns, it’s the run game.

Week 1 saw the Raiders scrape together just 56 rushing yards. By week 2 against the Chargers, the ground game still struggled, managing only 68 yards. Right at the center of it is Ashton Jeanty. Following the season opener, where he rushed for 38 yards and one touchdown, Jeanty’s performance had a significant dip against the Chargers (43 yards on 11 carries).

For the time being, the rookie is averaging just 2.7 yards per carry. Which makes you wonder: Is it his performance or the Raiders’ overall struggling run game that led Carroll to sideline the No. 6 overall pick? The head coach might have the answer.

The Raiders are just starting with Ashton Jeanty

Against the Chargers, the Raiders leaned heavily on the passing game. Geno Smith completed 24-of-43 passes for 180 yards, with no touchdowns and three interceptions. And if we’re being real, it’s safe to say that the overall offense looked ugly from start to finish. The team managed just 218 total yards and produced barely any explosive plays. And in the thick of it? The mediocre running game.

Ashton Jeanty struggled mightily, and the running backs just contributed 68 yards on the ground. Following the game, Pete Carroll was supposed to address Jeanty’s role in this Raiders’ lineup, and he sure did. “We’re just getting started (with Jeanty),” the HC said, per Las Vegas Review-Journal.

“He’s breaking into the NFL. He’s figuring it out. He’ll get more carries. We have to run the ball more effectively. We only got (68 yards), and that’s not enough. We need more than that. We’re bringing (Jeanty) along. More will come.” The Raiders carried the ball just 14 times during the game, while Smith led the team through the air. The signs are clear: while Jeanty’s struggles are palpable, the Raiders’ decision to sideline him isn’t benefiting them in the backfield.