Raiders Start Mike Washington Over Ashton Jeanty
Rookie Mike Washington received every first-quarter carry in Las Vegas's Week 8 game against the Jets.
Updated on Nov. 1, 2026 in Football
The Raiders gave all of their first-quarter carries to rookie Mike Washington rather than Ashton Jeanty during the Week 8 game against the Jets. Jeanty was named a captain for the contest but did not carry the ball in the opening quarter.
Why it matters
The decision shifts early-game rushing usage in Las Vegas's backfield and raises questions about how the team is distributing carries between its two running backs. It also gives Washington an opportunity to show what he can contribute as a rookie.
Washington took every first-quarter carry in the Raiders' Week 8 game against the Jets, while Jeanty, named a captain for that contest, had none in the opening period. The extraction does not report total rushing yards, carry counts for the full game, or whether the split continued after the first quarter.
The players
Mike Washington
A rookie running back for the Las Vegas Raiders who received all first-quarter carries in the Week 8 game against the Jets.
Ashton Jeanty
A Las Vegas Raiders running back who was named a captain for the Week 8 game but did not carry the ball in the first quarter.
The details
Jeanty was named a captain for the Week 8 game, but the Raiders went with Washington for every first-quarter carry against the Jets. The team has not, according to the source, explained the decision.
Timeline
Week 8 of the 2026 NFL season: Raiders vs. Jets game in which Washington received all first-quarter carries.
Season Trajectory
The Raiders' decision to open the Week 8 game with Mike Washington rather than Ashton Jeanty adds a new wrinkle to Las Vegas's running back situation in the middle of the 2026 season. How the team allocates carries between its rookie and its captain could influence its offensive identity as it works through the remainder of the schedule.
The split gives Washington an early-game role that could affect fantasy projections for both running backs in Raiders games. For fans tracking the depth chart, the Week 8 usage suggests the team is willing to reshuffle its backfield rotation.
The takeaway
Watching early-game usage can reveal how a coaching staff is weighing a rookie against a veteran captain. Fans and fantasy players should track whether the first-quarter split becomes a pattern.
Further reading
For broader coverage of the league, see Football news.
