Las Vegas, NV — Ashton Jeanty, the Las Vegas Raiders’ rookie running back, showed he can deliver and take hits at the NFL level, putting together an impressive 33 yards and a touchdown on seven carries during the Raiders’ 22-19 preseason loss to the San Francisco 49ers on Saturday night.
The game ended in dramatic fashion as Jake Moody drilled a 59-yard field goal as time expired for the 49ers (1-1). Earlier, Moody connected on a 44-yard field goal with 37 seconds left to tie the game, and then Jaylen Mahoney intercepted Raiders quarterback Cam Miller to set up the game-winning kick.
“I was glad the defense gave us a chance with Mahoney getting that interception,” said 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan. “Wish he could’ve returned it a bit more, but it set it up perfectly for Jake to make a big kick, and for him to hit a 59-yarder in that situation was huge.” Moody finished the game 5 of 6 on field goals, while Daniel Carlson made all four of his attempts for the Raiders (0-1-1).
In the game’s opening series, 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy led the team to a field goal, completing 5 of 7 passes for 66 yards. Backup quarterback Mac Jones went 13 of 16 for 135 yards with an interception, and former Raiders QB Carter Bradley came in to lead the tying and winning drives, finishing 8 of 13 for 96 yards. Notably, 49ers star running back Christian McCaffrey did not play.
For the Raiders, Geno Smith started and completed 6 of 8 passes for 55 yards during the first two offensive series, leading the team to 10 points. Aidan O’Connell took over and guided the Raiders through the game, finishing 15 of 23 for 138 yards with an interception.
Jeanty Shows Resilience
Jeanty, known for his ability to break tackles during his college days at Boise State, proved his worth in the NFL, showing power, vision, and toughness. After taking a hard hit to his right shoulder from 49ers linebacker Tatum Bethune in the first quarter, Jeanty went into the medical tent. He was diagnosed with a shoulder stinger but passed the concussion protocol and returned to the field.
“(Bethune) definitely hit me pretty hard, but I didn’t go down,” Jeanty said after the game.
On his next series, Jeanty took a handoff and ran over 49ers cornerback Deommodore Lenoir, turning the run into a 13-yard gain. He capped it off with a powerful 1-yard touchdown run to give the Raiders a brief lead.
Geno Smith had high praise for the rookie’s tough running style: “Man, it fires me up seeing the way he runs. He’s running through people, and he’s not shying away from contact. I think he’s going to be a really special player. He just needs to keep working and improving, but it was great to see him in space and dynamic with the ball in his hands.”
Jeanty, the Raiders’ 6th overall pick, bounced back from a lackluster performance in his first preseason game where he finished with minus-1 yard on three carries in a 23-23 tie against Seattle on Aug. 7.
Injuries Pile Up for the 49ers
The 49ers were hit hard with injuries, particularly on offense. In the first half, they lost Dominick Puni, their starting right guard, to a knee injury while blocking on a field goal. Running backs Corey Kiner (ankle) and Patrick Taylor Jr. (shoulder) also went down, adding to a growing list of injuries for San Francisco. The team entered the game already without roughly 20 players, including several wide receivers.
Brady in the Building
Former New England Patriots quarterback and current Raiders minority owner, Tom Brady, was in attendance at Allegiant Stadium. Brady, who recently joined the Raiders as a part-owner, wore a white Raiders jacket and black pants. He’s made several appearances this preseason, including attending a practice and mock game a few weeks ago.
Brady wasn’t the only notable figure in the stadium. Eight Hall of Fame Raiders, including Marcus Allen, Fred Biletnikoff, and Tim Brown, were also in attendance, enjoying the silver-carpet treatment during the game.
What’s Next:
49ers: Host the Los Angeles Chargers next Saturday.
Raiders: Visit Arizona next Saturday.
Despite the loss, Jeanty’s performance provided a glimpse of the power and potential he brings to the Raiders’ offense. The team will look to build on this showing as they head into their final preseason games.
