HENDERSON, Nev. — The memory of Ashton Jeanty’s historic 2024 season at Boise State, where he rushed for staggering numbers and finished second in Heisman Trophy voting, still lingers. But his introduction to the NFL last year was a stark contrast. Selected in the sixth round by the Las Vegas Raiders, Jeanty endured a trying rookie campaign behind an offensive line that ranked dead last in the league. He managed only 1.6 yards before contact per carry, the third-worst mark among backs with more than 100 rushes, and wound up just 25 yards shy of a 1,000-yard season. That was cold comfort for a player who entered the league with sky-high expectations.

Now, as the Raiders gather for training camp in 2026, Jeanty is determined to prove that last season was an anomaly. “When everything is not going well, continuing to go to work and having hope and faith,” Jeanty said. “I think that’ll carry into this year. Just taking it one week at a time, whether you win or you lose, you’ve got to attack the next game and the next week with the same mindset.”

The front office clearly heard the message. The Raiders made a massive investment in the offensive line, most notably signing three-time Pro Bowl center Tyler Linderbaum away from Baltimore on a three-year, $81 million contract with $60 million guaranteed — the richest deal ever for an interior offensive lineman. They also added Spencer Burford, who spent four seasons with the San Francisco 49ers, and he has been lining up as the first-team left guard throughout camp. Left tackle Kolton Miller, who missed all but four games last season due to an ankle injury, is back and healthy. Whether these moves will transform the line remains to be seen, but the optimism is palpable. Jeanty should finally have room to run.

First-year head coach Klint Kubiak has made it clear that Jeanty will be the centerpiece of the ground game. “He wants to be a major part of this team,” Kubiak said. “We’re going to give him that opportunity.” That echoes Kubiak’s offseason declaration that Jeanty would be the bellcow back, even with fourth-round rookie Mike Washington Jr. on the roster. Washington has flashed potential in camp, even earning a carry with the first-team offense on Sunday. Jeanty welcomes the competition. “It’s always great to come out the game and have another guy come in there and there’s no drop down,” he said. “I truly believe he’ll be able to help us win some games.”

Offensive coordinator Andrew Janocko believes Jeanty can take another step by becoming a more vocal leader, something the soft-spoken back acknowledges. “It’s always tough being in the first year trying to figure out so much stuff,” Jeanty said. “But this year, there’s a lot of expectations for me and I think I’ve got to make a big jump. I think that starts with helping my teammates as well and just being a better teammate.”

Beyond the backfield, the Raiders are facing a critical kicking competition. The team parted ways with Daniel Carlson, the franchise’s all-time leader in field goal percentage and the holder of the top four single-season marks. Veteran Matt Gay, who posted 94.1% and 93.3% accuracy in 2021 and 2022 with the Los Angeles Rams, is vying for the job against rookie Kansei Matsuzawa, nicknamed “The Tokyo Toe.” Gay is reunited with his former Rams special teams coordinator, Joe DeCamillis, and feels a strong connection. “I’m really pleased with how I’m hitting it right now, getting back with Joe,” Gay said. “We get each other pretty well, and I think we vibe off each other really well. He knows kind of what I need. My goals for the end of training camp is just to get back to feeling like my true self, get back hitting the ball, get back to not thinking too much.” For Matsuzawa, the dream is still surreal. “I dreamed of playing in the NFL seven years ago, and then my dream come true,” he said. “But there’s a lot of things going on, and I want to do better. I want to be a great player. It’s been amazing, but I feel like this is the first step of my new journey here.”

In a concerning note, second-year wide receiver Dont’e Thornton Jr. was helped off the field late in Sunday’s practice with an apparent injury. The fourth-round pick from 2025 caught 10 passes for 135 yards last season and had been hoping to carve out a larger role. The Raiders are awaiting further evaluation.

As camp continues, all eyes remain on Jeanty. The talent that made him a college sensation hasn’t vanished. With a fortified offensive line and a coach who believes in him, he has every chance to turn flashes into a full season of dominance.