Kirk Cousins and Ashton Jeanty were both missing from the Las Vegas Raiders’ practice field on Wednesday, giving fans a new reason to watch the team’s injury report closely with the regular season just two weeks away. The Kirk Cousins Ashton Jeanty absences were confirmed by multiple reporters who were on hand for the session.
Jeanty’s absence has a clear explanation: he’s still working his way back from an ankle injury he suffered last week. Cousins’ situation is less clear. As of Wednesday, the team had not said why its starting quarterback sat out.
Here’s a breakdown of what’s known about the Kirk Cousins Ashton Jeanty situation, why it matters for the Raiders’ season opener, and what to watch for as Las Vegas finishes its final preparations before Week 1.
What Happened at Wednesday’s Practice?
According to reporters who covered the session, Cousins and Jeanty were both held out of Wednesday’s practice. Jeanty is continuing to recover from an ankle injury, but the reason behind Cousins’ absence has not been confirmed.
There was one small hint about the quarterback’s status. Cousins did appear on the field before the media’s viewing window ended, wearing a red no-contact jersey along with a hat. That combination is often used for players getting a planned rest day rather than players dealing with a new injury, though the team has not confirmed that explanation.
Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak was expected to speak with reporters after practice and could shed more light on both situations.
With Kirk Cousins out of team drills, rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza ran the offense with the first-team unit. Mendoza, the Raiders’ first-round pick, is expected to see far fewer practice reps once the regular season begins, so Wednesday’s session may have offered him a valuable opportunity to keep developing before Las Vegas shifts its full focus to Week 1.
Why Ashton Jeanty Is Sidelined
Jeanty’s absence traces back to a scary moment at practice roughly a week earlier. The second-year running back dove for a pass thrown by Cousins during a team drill, landed awkwardly and had to be helped off the field without being able to put weight on his right leg. Teammates reportedly took a knee as trainers tended to him.
The injury is believed to be a sprained ankle. Reports have since described it as a lower-grade sprain rather than a more serious high-ankle injury, which is typically a much longer-term issue. Even so, the Raiders have not released a specific return timetable, and it remains uncertain whether Jeanty will be ready for the season opener.
One encouraging sign came when Las Vegas trimmed its roster to 53 players and did not place Jeanty on injured reserve. That move suggests the team does not expect him to miss an extended stretch of games, since a player placed on injured reserve must sit out a minimum number of games before returning.
Jeanty was the No. 6 overall pick in last year’s NFL Draft out of Boise State, and he delivered a productive rookie season for Las Vegas. He rushed for 975 yards and five touchdowns on the ground while adding 55 catches for 346 yards and five more scores through the air, giving him more than 1,300 total yards from scrimmage.
If Jeanty can’t go in Week 1, rookie running back Mike Washington Jr. is the most likely candidate to step into the lead role. Washington, a fourth-round pick, impressed during the preseason, including a 53-yard run against the Arizona Cardinals and a strong follow-up outing against the Houston Texans.
Why Kirk Cousins’ Status Matters
Cousins signed with the Raiders as a veteran free agent this offseason after being released by the Atlanta Falcons. Now 37, he arrived in Las Vegas already familiar with head coach Klint Kubiak, who served as his quarterbacks coach and later offensive coordinator years earlier with the Minnesota Vikings.
Kubiak named Cousins the starting quarterback heading into training camp, while also making clear that Mendoza would get a chance to compete for the job. The plan going into the season has been for Cousins to start while Mendoza, the team’s long-term answer at the position, continues to develop behind him.
Because of that setup, any absence involving Cousins draws extra attention. A veteran quarterback missing practice this close to the season opener could mean anything from a planned rest day to a minor issue the team is managing carefully. Until the Raiders provide more information, the exact reason remains unconfirmed.
Impact on the Raiders’ Season Opener
Las Vegas opens its regular season on the road against the Miami Dolphins on Sept. 13. With both Cousins and Jeanty banged up or resting just before that game, the coaching staff will need to balance getting its top players enough practice time with making sure they’re fully healthy for Week 1.
If Jeanty is unable to play in the opener, facing a Dolphins team that many analysts expect to struggle this season could be a reasonable spot for the Raiders to ease him back in during a later week rather than rush his return. Washington’s strong preseason performance gives Las Vegas a credible option if that’s the direction the team chooses.
For Cousins, any missed practice time in the final stretch before the season carries less long-term risk than an injury to a running back who relies heavily on physical burst and cutting ability. Still, continuity between Cousins and his top offensive weapons, including Jeanty, matters heading into a season opener.
Background: A New Era for the Raiders
This season marks a fresh start for the Raiders under Kubiak, their first-year head coach. The team built its offseason around adding veteran leadership at quarterback while also selecting Mendoza, viewed as the franchise’s long-term option at the position.
Cousins brings 14 years of NFL experience to a Raiders quarterback room that also includes Mendoza and returning backup Aidan O’Connell. Cousins is a four-time Pro Bowler with more than 44,000 career passing yards, ranking among the top 20 quarterbacks in NFL history by that measure.
Jeanty, meanwhile, is entering his second season as one of the centerpieces of the Raiders’ offense. Las Vegas has signaled it wants to lean more heavily on the running game under Kubiak, which makes Jeanty’s health an important storyline as the team heads into the regular season.
What Happens Next?
The clearest next step is Kubiak’s post-practice media availability, where he was expected to address both situations directly. Reporters covering the team will likely press for more clarity on why Cousins sat out and for any updated timeline on Jeanty’s recovery.
Beyond that, the Raiders have roughly two weeks of practice time left before their Sept. 13 opener against Miami. How Cousins and Jeanty are used in that stretch, including whether either player returns to full practice participation, should offer the clearest signal yet about their status for Week 1.
Fans should expect the situation to become clearer in the coming days as the Raiders continue preparing for the regular season and the team’s beat reporters relay updates from practice.
Why did Kirk Cousins miss Wednesday’s Raiders practice?
The reason for Kirk Cousins’ absence from Wednesday’s practice has not been confirmed by the team. He was seen on the field in a red no-contact jersey and a hat before the media viewing window ended, which can sometimes indicate a planned rest day, but the Raiders have not officially explained the absence.
What injury does Ashton Jeanty have?
Ashton Jeanty is recovering from what’s believed to be a sprained right ankle. He was injured during a team practice when he dove for a pass and landed awkwardly. Reports have since described the injury as a lower-grade sprain rather than a more serious high-ankle sprain.
Will Ashton Jeanty play in the Raiders’ season opener?
It’s not yet confirmed. The Raiders have not released a specific timetable for Jeanty’s return, but the team did not place him on injured reserve when trimming its roster, which suggests they don’t expect him to miss an extended period of games.
Who is replacing Ashton Jeanty in practice?
Rookie running back Mike Washington Jr. has been taking on a larger role in practice while Jeanty recovers. Washington, a fourth-round pick, had strong performances in the preseason, including a 53-yard run against the Arizona Cardinals.
Who is the Raiders’ starting quarterback in 2026?
Kirk Cousins opened training camp as the Raiders’ starting quarterback after signing with the team as a free agent. Rookie Fernando Mendoza, the team’s first-round pick, is viewed as the franchise’s long-term quarterback and has been developing behind Cousins.
When do the Raiders play their first regular-season game?
The Las Vegas Raiders open their regular season on the road against the Miami Dolphins on Sept. 13,2026.
How did Ashton Jeanty perform as a rookie?
Ashton Jeanty had a productive rookie season in 2025, rushing for 975 yards and five touchdowns while adding 55 catches for 346 yards and five more scores through the air, totaling more than 1,300 yards from scrimmage.
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