Raiders’ Chip Kelly Fires Strong Words Over Ashton Jeanty Usage
Getty
(Photo by Candice Ward/Getty Images)
It’s been a rollercoaster ride for the Las Vegas Raiders‘ offense in Year 1 with Chip Kelly as the team’s offensive coordinator. Moreover, one of the criticisms aimed at Kelly has been his handling of rookie running back Ashton Jeanty.
A few weeks ago, critics called out Kelly for changing Jeanty’s stance, but the player has since switched back and regained his form after a slow start to the 2025 NFL season.
Nonetheless, Kelly is again under fire for his usage of Jeanty as the Raiders’ young star only had 13 carries in the 30-29 Week 9 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars on November 2.
Amid the criticism, the Raiders coach did defend himself, noting how much Las Vegas have Jeanty as a focal point of their offense.
“I think he leads the league in rookie rushing, doesn’t he? Carries,” Kelly told reporters on November 4 (h/t
“We’re just trying to win games. He’s our No. 1 back, and we’re running the ball; he’s running a bit in the pass game the other day, and he’s starting to be involved in that and trying to get him more involved in that way. He’s continuing to grow; he’s doing a heck of a job. Really excited that we have him.”
Brock Bowers Is a Bright Spot in the Raiders Offense
Whether Jeanty will get more touches running the football remains to be seen, but Brock Bowers is one player getting his share of targets after returning from injury.
The Georgia product recorded 12 receptions for 127 receiving yards and three touchdowns. Although Bowers’s individual performance was fantastic, he didn’t hold back on how it felt to return to the field in a Raiders loss.
“It’s not a great feeling,” Bowers said postgame (h/t Vegas Sports Today). “You want to come back in here and celebrate with the guys. It sucks. You can’t celebrate anything… I think we’re definitely still working on finding that identity, especially now that we’re getting everyone back to full strength. So I’m just excited to see what the rest of the year holds.”
Raider Are Leaning Heavily on Brock Bowers
Giving Jeanty more touches and leaning on the run game should ease some pressure on veteran quarterback Geno Smith. Nonetheless, with Bowers back in the lineup for Las Vegas, Smith also has a dependable target over the middle. At times, it
“He’s one of the best players on our team, one of the best players in the NFL,” Geno Smith said postgame (h/t
“A lot of those catches a lot of guys don’t make. You can just see his impact on the game when he’s out there. He’s such a dynamic player. At one point, they were double-teaming him, triple-teaming him trying to stop him and that just opens the field for the rest of the guys.”
Broncos QB Bo Nix Gives Strong Reaction After Trade Deadline Decision
Getty
Bo Nix #10 of the Denver Broncos reacts against the Houston Texans.
The Denver Broncos let the 2025 trade deadline come and go without getting anything done. Broncos quarterback Bo Nix offered strong thoughts about why that was. He also spoke about what it means for the team this season.
It was not as if the Broncos did not try. However, their desire fell short of what was required to make something happen.
For Nix, the decision came as little to no surprise.
Bo Nix: ‘Great’ Broncos Confident Enough to Stand Pat at Trade Deadline
GettyBo Nix #10 of the Denver Broncos reacts after defeating the New York Giants.
Nix fielded a question about what is says to the team that the Broncos did not go all out to add a piece. Particularly, he was asked what it says about head coach Sean Payton’s faith in the group.
Nix called it “great.”
“Obviously, if there’s a need, you want to get it,” Nix told reporters on November 4. “But we feel like we got all the pieces. And so, sometimes when something like that happens, it shakes things up. And we got something good going, and we just want to keep riding this wave and finding ways to win.”
Much of the conversation around the Broncos’ trade plans stemmed from seeking help for Nix, be it another target or protection amid injuries to their offensive line.
The Broncos attempted to bring in tight ends and explored wide receiver trades.
Their biggest addition was veteran tight end Marcedes Lewis, who will have a bit role on the field and provide a locker room presence. Other than that, it is up to Nix and his current crop of pass catchers to take the necessary next steps.
Broncos WR Reacts to Trade Deadline
GettyTroy Franklin #11 of the Denver Broncos reacts after scoring a touchdown against the Indianapolis Colts.
One of Nix’s top targets, current Broncos wideout and former Oregon Ducks teammate Troy Franklin, spoke candidly about the Broncos’ lack of action at the deadline.
According to Franklin, it was not surprising based on what they had been told.
“Sean (Payton has) been telling us all year he loves our team, loves the receiver group and we don’t really need anything, so he’s kept his word,” Franklin said, per The Denver Gazette’s Chris Tomasson in a post on X on November 4.
Payton said leading up to the deadline that the Broncos would be open to a deal. However, that was only if it provided actual value, and not just to make something happen.
Franklin “especially” did not expect a WR move, per Tomasson, but Denver explored its options.
“The Broncos did NOT make a trade before the trade deadline,” DNVR’s Zac Stevens reported on X on November 4. “From my understanding, they looked into making moves, but didn’t force anything.”
Bo Nix: Broncos Looking to ‘Improve Faster’ Than Competition
GettyBo Nix #10 of the Denver Broncos on the field after defeating the Houston Texans.
Nix acknowledged the Broncos’ fourth-quarter prowess has belied the difficulty of scoring. He joked that not facing a top defense like the Houston Texans in Week 9 would help. He also noted that the Broncos are far from satisfied with so much of the season left.
At 7-2, tied for the best record in the NFL, and riding a six-game winning streak is nice, but hardly their end goal.
Their main focus is continuing to improve.
“We have so many things that we want to correct. And we feel like we haven’t even played a complete game offensively, much less, as a team. And so, I think once we start doing that, then we got to be careful about being too lax. But until then, we’re all in a growth mindset, and we’re worried about the things that we can fix,” Nix told reporters on Tuesday.
“Because there’s several of them from each position that we’re trying to focus on. And until we’re hitting all the ones that we need to hit, I don’t think we’re going to be able to be relaxed. Because we have a lot of guys that are competitive. We don’t have a bunch of frontrunners. We just got a locker room full of guys that are trying to race to improve, and improve faster than everybody else in the league.”
