The Las Vegas Raiders return from their bye week with a chip on their shoulder after a 31-0 thrashing by the Kansas City Chiefs. This Sunday at Allegiant Stadium, the Silver and Black (2-5) host the Jacksonville Jaguars (4-3), desperate to climb to .500 and keep their flickering playoff dreams alive. For Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty, the marquee attraction isn’t just the opponent—it’s facing his 2025 draft classmate, two-way phenom Travis Hunter.
“He’s a great player, obviously dynamic, playing on both sides of the ball,” Jeanty told reporters on October 29. “A guy to look out for on offense and defense. But yeah, excited, regardless of who it is, and just excited to go out there and play another home game.”
Jeanty didn’t sugarcoat the challenge ahead. “TheJaguarsareThe Jaguars are really good up front. They force a lot of turnovers, so we’ve got to take care of the ball. They have a great run defense—I think No. 7 in the league. We’ve got our challenges cut out for us.”
Head coach Pete Carroll, never one to mince words, doubled down on the Hunter hype during a recent 1 on 1 appearance.
“He’s not just a good fast kid that can play ball,” Carroll said. “He’s got great instincts. That’s why he could play on both sides of the football. I remember asking him at the combine, ‘Are you worried about playing both ways?’ He said, ‘Heck no, I’ve always played both ways.’ He wasn’t even concerned about it.”
Carroll continued: “That’s the kind of guy who has the savvy and awareness that make him unique and special, and why they went so hard after getting him. He’s the centerpiece of their offense and, in particular, defense. Maybe they’re cutting back a little on that, but offensively, he did really well last week. He’s not just a catch guy; he’s a catch-and-run guy, and he blocks, too. He’s got a good mentality about him.”
Jeanty won’t be alone in the backfield. On October 27, the Raiders signed veteran wideout Tyler Lockett, reuniting him with Carroll and quarterback Geno Smith. Lockett, who began 2025 with the Tennessee Titans before requesting his release on October 20, could make his Las Vegas debut against Jacksonville.
Carroll is optimistic but measured. “High hopes for him and high hopes for us that we can make a good connection here. It’s a lot to ask a guy to jump in and be a regular player in a week’s time, but he’s going for it and we’ll see what happens by the end of the week. He’s in here over the weekend as soon as he found out that he was going to be a Raider.”
The coach didn’t hold back on Lockett’s pedigree: “He’s a marvelous football player and a tremendous person; he’s one of the real natural ball players—he’s got great sense and feel and has always demonstrated that. Geno knows him really well. They’ve played together for quite some time, and there’s a chemistry between them that maybe can give us a little edge that we haven’t had with the younger guys who have been playing.”
As Allegiant Stadium braces for a showdown between two of the 2025 draft’s brightest stars, Jeanty’s message is clear: respect the talent, fear no one. Kickoff is Sunday.