Mike Washington Jr. might not have to wait much longer for his opportunity.
uncertain
Jr. → have → opportunity
And the Raiders might not have much choice about giving it to him.
uncertain
Raiders → have → him
With Ashton Jeanty held out of Friday’s practice while dealing with foot and ankle injuries, his availability for Sunday’s game against the Patriots is up in the air.
asserted
availability → hold → air
Even if he plays, the progression of his practice week makes it reasonable to question how much the 3-1 Raiders can ask of him.
asserted
Raiders → play → him
That does not settle the question of whether Jeanty will suit up in New England.
asserted
Jeanty → settle → England
But it puts Washington Jr. squarely in the conversation for a significantly increased workload.
asserted
it → put → workload
At this point, the Raiders have to prepare the rookie for that responsibility.
asserted
Raiders → have → responsibility
Jeanty has been trying to work his way back to full strength since suffering an ankle injury shortly before the season opener.
asserted
Jeanty → try → opener
So have the periodic reminders that his body is still putting him through it.
asserted
body → have → it
There have been moments when he has gotten up grimacing.
asserted
he → get → ?
After the Chiefs game, he acknowledged he was improving but still working toward being fully healthy.
asserted
he → acknowledge → game
Now, with a foot injury also listed and his practice participation moving in the wrong direction, the Raiders face a decision that extends beyond whether he can play.
asserted
he → list → decision
How much can he reasonably give them?
asserted
he → give → them
And how much could Washington help?
The rookie spent the preseason providing an enticing glimpse of that answer, rushing for 168 yards on 23 carries and averaging 7.3 yards per attempt.
uncertain
rookie → help → attempt
His highlights included a 53-yard run against Arizona and a 33-yard burst against Houston.
asserted
highlights → include → Houston
He carried that momentum into the regular season and now has 120 yards on 24 carries, including a 36-yard touchdown against the Saints.
asserted
He → carry → Saints
Washington Jr. is averaging 5 yards per carry.
asserted
Jr. → average → carry
That said, it’s one thing to produce when the opposing defense is more focused on stopping the leading man — or Jeanty — and entirely different when you are no longer just the understudy.
asserted
you → say → man
Still, Washington has shown enough acceleration and big-play ability to make a larger role intriguing.
asserted
role → show → acceleration
The Raiders are averaging 3.1 yards per carry and managed just 43 rushing yards on 20 attempts in their loss to the Chiefs.
asserted
Raiders → average → Chiefs
They need something to change, regardless of who is taking the handoffs.
asserted
who → need → handoffs
That responsibility still begins up front.
asserted
responsibility → begin → front
Washington cannot be expected to solve blocking breakdowns simply by replacing Jeanty.
asserted
Washington → expect → Jeanty
If defenders are meeting him in the backfield or closing running lanes before he can reach them, the results are unlikely to look much different.
asserted
results → meet → them
But giving him more opportunities could help the Raiders find out whether their summer discovery can become a dependable fall contributor.
uncertain
discovery → give → opportunities
Washington could be approaching that transition, with all the responsibilities that accompany it.
uncertain
that → approach → it
Being reliable when the play calls for something other than a carry.
asserted
play → call → carry
Those details will help determine whether an expanded opportunity becomes an enduring role.
asserted
opportunity → help → ?
A productive Washington could give the running game another answer while easing the burden on a starter who clearly has plenty to manage physically.
uncertain
who → give → plenty
With Buffalo and the Rams following New England, the Raiders need both backs capable of helping them through a demanding stretch.
Jeanty’s Friday absence makes the immediate situation more uncertain.
Washington’s assignment should be becoming clearer.
asserted
assignment → follow → stretch
Prepare for more carries, more responsibility and a game that could require considerably more from him than anything that has come before it.
uncertain
that → prepare → it
His time to shine could be Sunday.
uncertain
time → shine → ?
Whether Jeanty plays or not.
asserted
Jeanty → play → ?
The Aporia
