Las Vegas Raiders Avoid Disaster With Ashton Jeanty Injury

The Las Vegas Raiders appear to have avoided disaster with one of the most important players on their roster.

Running back Ashton Jeanty went down during Sunday's practice after diving for a low pass and landing awkwardly. Jeanty couldn't put weight on his right leg and needed assistance getting off the field, creating immediate concern that the second-year star may have suffered a significant injury.

Fortunately, the early diagnosis is much more encouraging.

Ashton Jeanty Believed to Have Sprained Ankle

Jeanty is believed to have suffered a sprained ankle, and the injury isn't currently expected to result in a long-term absence. That's obviously tremendous news considering how concerning the situation initially looked.

Raiders players gathered around Jeanty and took a knee after he went down, and anytime a player can't put weight on his leg and needs help leaving practice, there's immediate fear of a potentially season-altering injury.

Instead, Las Vegas appears to have avoided the worst-case scenario. There isn't yet a firm timetable for Jeanty's return, meaning his status will still be something to monitor as the regular season approaches.

Jeanty's Health Is Critical for Raiders

For the Raiders, getting Jeanty healthy is incredibly important.

The former No. 6 overall pick is entering his second NFL season after producing 975 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns as a rookie. He also added 346 receiving yards and five more scores through the air, finishing his first season with 1,321 yards from scrimmage and 10 total touchdowns.

That's a tremendous foundation to build upon entering Year 2. Jeanty is expected to be the centerpiece of the Raiders' offense this season, making his health especially important as Las Vegas prepares for Week 1.

There's still uncertainty surrounding exactly when Jeanty will be back on the field, and Las Vegas certainly won't want to rush one of its most important young players back during the preseason. But given how scary Sunday's injury initially appeared, a sprained ankle is about as encouraging of an outcome as the Raiders could've hoped for.