Ashton Jeanty wants to play.
asserted
Jeanty → want → ?
Klint Kubiak says he will.
asserted
he → say → ?
But the most important question facing the Raiders might be the one that deserves more consideration before Sunday’s game against the Bills.
uncertain
that → face → Bills
There is a difference between being healthy enough to take a handoff and being healthy enough to do something with it.
Between being able to run, jump and cut and being able to perform those movements with the explosiveness that makes Jeanty special.
asserted
Jeanty → be → explosiveness
The Raiders need to ask whether Jeanty is healthy enough to be effective, rather than simply healthy enough to play.
asserted
Jeanty → need → ?
The former Boise State star suffered a high ankle sprain shortly before last month’s season opener and is now dealing with a foot injury, too.
asserted
star → suffer → injury
So is his declining production, including 27 yards on 10 carries against the Patriots on Sunday.
asserted
production → decline → Sunday
At some point, the Raiders have to do more than just consider whether giving him time to heal would help him, and their offense, and actually do it.
asserted
giving → have → it
It does not appear that is going to happen, though.
asserted
that → appear → ?
Despite internal conversations about giving Jeanty a week off to recover from his foot and ankle injuries, Kubiak shut down the possibility Wednesday, making clear that Jeanty will play against Buffalo.
“He’s playing,” Kubiak said, flatly.
asserted
Kubiak → give → Buffalo
The Raiders first-year head coach also added that Jeanty is “really starting to feel a lot better physically.
asserted
Jeanty → add → ?
That settles his availability, at least for now.
asserted
That → settle → availability
It should not end the discussion about what makes the most sense.
asserted
what → end → sense
Especially with rookie Mike Washington Jr. showing so much promise and seemingly capable of holding down the fort until Jeanty returns.
asserted
Jeanty → show → fort
Jeanty means too much to this organization, both for what the Raiders hope to accomplish this season and what they intend to build beyond it, for the decision to rest entirely on whether he can tolerate another Sunday.
asserted
he → mean → Sunday
His toughness is established.
asserted
toughness → establish → ?
Neither needs another four quarters of proof.
Jeanty’s position is understandable.
asserted
position → need → proof
As he has explained it, unless he cannot run, jump or cut, he intends to play.
asserted
he → explain → it
That is the mindset teammates respect and coaches appreciate, especially when losses are piling up and everyone is searching for a way to reverse course.
asserted
everyone → respect → course
Nobody wants to be the player watching while his teammates struggle.
asserted
teammates → want → ?
But that is also why the decision cannot simply follow the player’s wishes.
asserted
decision → follow → wishes
Sometimes the responsibility of a coaching staff is to look beyond what a competitor is willing to endure and determine whether enduring it serves anyone’s interests.
asserted
enduring → look → interests
Over the last few weeks, Jeanty has not looked close to his normal self.
asserted
Jeanty → look → self
The willingness to fight through contact is there.
asserted
willingness → fight → contact
What has been harder to find is the consistent burst and freedom of movement that allow a gifted running back to turn a small opening into something meaningful.
asserted
back → find → something
That distinction matters.
asserted
distinction → matter → ?
At this level, a running lane can disappear in the time it takes to hesitate.
asserted
it → disappear → time
A defender who would normally be left reaching can become the player wrapping up a leg.
asserted
who → leave → leg
The difference between an ordinary carry and an explosive gain can come down to one decisive plant.
asserted
difference → come → plant
Being able to make that movement is one thing.
asserted
Being → make → movement
Being able to trust it, finish it and accelerate out of it is another.
asserted
Being → trust → it
To be clear, Jeanty’s injuries do not explain every problem with the Raiders’ running game.
asserted
injuries → explain → game
The blocking needs to improve.
asserted
blocking → need → ?
The execution needs to become more consistent.
asserted
execution → need → ?
There are issues that would challenge him even at full strength.
asserted
that → be → strength
Resting him would not magically fix those problems.
asserted
Resting → rest → problems
But neither does continuing to send out a diminished version of him.
asserted
continuing → do → him
The Raiders have to ask whether they are getting enough from that arrangement to justify continuing it, particularly if a break could give him a better chance to regain his effectiveness.
uncertain
break → have → effectiveness
There is no guarantee one missed game would accomplish that.
asserted
game → be → that
The medical staff has information the rest of us do not, and its assessment must guide any decision about recovery.
asserted
assessment → have → recovery
…and 20 more, not listed.
The Aporia
