Jeanty: Optimism not quite as high as Carroll’s

HENDERSON, Nev. — In the midst of a seven-game losing streak, Las Vegas Raiders head coach Pete Carroll expressed his belief that his team is on the verge of turning things around.

Rookie running back Ashton Jeanty has moderated those expectations.

«I wouldn’t claim to share Pete’s optimism all the time,» Jeanty stated on Wednesday. «However, I genuinely believe that occasionally, it just requires one play, one spark, to shift the game’s momentum in our favor and set the organization on the path to victory.»

Ahead of their matchup against the Denver Broncos this Sunday, Carroll noted the team has been putting in tremendous effort, aiming for their first victory since their Week 6 triumph over the Tennessee Titans, which ended 20-10.

«Our attitude remains surprisingly positive about the situation,» Carroll remarked. «This embodies our culture and sets our expectations, but it’s definitely present.»

At 2-11, Jeanty described his rookie campaign as «incredibly frustrating» due to the inability to translate their hard work on the practice field into wins.

His performance has not met the preseason projections for the No. 6 draft pick, having accrued 191 carries for 665 yards and eight total touchdowns. In the last game against the Broncos, he managed 10 carries for just 30 yards, marking the seventh occasion this season where he has fallen short of 50 yards in a game.

Las Vegas ranks last in the NFL in rushing yards, averaging only 72.7 yards per game.

«We must continuously seek ways to improve our execution and perform better in critical moments,» Jeanty concluded.

Regarding the spark Jeanty mentioned, he indicated that it could emerge «at any moment.» However, given the upcoming games against the Philadelphia Eagles and Houston Texans, capturing that spark might prove challenging for the Raiders.

«When your opportunity arises, and the opening appears, you need to seize it,» Jeanty asserted.