Mike Washington Jr. showing off phenomenal Raiders potential after Ashton Jeanty injury

There is one positive emerging for the Raiders from Ashton Jeanty’s preseason injury.With Jeanty’s return up in the air after spraining his ankle over the weekend, rookie running back Mike Washington Jr.has impressed the Raiders’ coaching staff.The Arkansas star was selected by the Raiders in the fourth round of the 2026 NFL Draft this past April, and head coach Klint Kubiak has liked what he’s seen out of him, saying he’s done a “phenomenal job of growing up really fast.”“We drafted him, you come to the NFL, there’s a lot on your plate and then we throw all these new protections at you, these new fronts and blitzes and routes,” Kubiak said.

“I think that he’s a guy that understands that we are counting on him and he needs to get up to speed quickly and he’s been mature about that.And he’s going to keep working.”Known for his physical presence as a runner, Washington Jr.

was expected to be used in short-yardage situations for the Raiders this season, as a way to give Jeanty a break.With Jeanty’s return timeframe still up in the air, the team will have to rely on the SEC’s fourth-leading rusher last year, when Washington ran for 1,070 yards and eight touchdowns for Arkansas.Washington has been impressive in two preseason games, rushing for 119 yards on 15 carries, while rotating alongside the Raiders starters.His most notable rush of the preseason came in their opener against the Arizona Cardinals, when he had a 53-yard run in the second quarter.With the early emergence of Washington Jr., he is one of what is expected to be many rookies to have an impact on the team this season.

Their recent draft class features No.1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza, safety Treydan Stukes, and cornerback Jermod McCoy, who was projected to be a first-round pick before an injury tanked his draft stock.Washington’s next chance to impress comes on Thursday night in the Raiders preseason finale against the 49ers....