Raiders OTAs: Ashton Jeanty's unique stance, Christian Wilkins' health and more
HENDERSON, Nev. — During his final season at Boise State, running back Ashton Jeanty went viral for his unique backfield stance. Instead of standing hunched over with his hands on his thighs like most running backs, he would stand up straight before the snap.
It served a purpose. Jeanty, who's only 5-foot-8, said it allowed him to get a better view of the defensive alignment. In OTAs with the Las Vegas Raiders, however, Jeanty has pivoted to using a more prototypical stance. It came at the suggestion of offensive coordinator Chip Kelly, who believes it gives him a stronger base to explode out of once the ball is snapped.
'He won for now,' Jeanty said last week in an interview with NFL Network's Kay Adams. 'I'm going to try and persuade him one day. I have to earn my stripes and make some plays first, but I don't think it's going to be the end (of my stance).'
There isn't much going on at this time in the NFL calendar, so it sparked some outrage among Raiders fans on social media. They feared the switch would make Jeanty a less effective runner.
As he spoke to reporters following practice Wednesday, Raiders coach Pete Carroll made it clear that he's heard the chatter. When asked about Jeanty's development, the coach playfully bent over in a stance of his own.
'I really like the stance that he is in.'
Pete Carroll on Ashton Jeanty's RB stance.
🎥: @MikeDixon_VST | #RaiderNation pic.twitter.com/oSITdv8sPH
— Vegas Sports Today (@VegasSportsTD) May 21, 2025
'I really like that stance he's in,' Carroll said with a smile. 'He's doing great. He really is. He's right on point with everything that we're doing. He's studying really hard. He's been really diligent about all aspects. There's nothing that he doesn't find important. He's going to work hard on his pass protection and his third-down work and see if he can contribute in that kind of role, as well. We're not holding anything back on him.'
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Here are some more serious observations from Wednesday's practice, which was the second of 10 voluntary OTAs the Raiders will have this offseason.
• Defensive tackle Christian Wilkins was at practice Wednesday, but he didn't run during the stretching period or participate in any drills as he continues to rehab from a Jones fracture in his left foot. Wilkins had surgery to repair the fracture last October, so it's been about seven months since the procedure.
Wilkins was placed in a walking boot immediately following his surgery, but he'd gotten out of it by the end of the season. He was placed back in a walking boot earlier this offseason, but he was back out of it by the start of OTAs. With him not participating in individual or team drills, it would appear he still has a way to go in his rehab.
'This has been a difficult recovery,' Carroll said. 'He's done everything he needs to do. He's been here every day. He's here early working hard, but we're still working on it. He's not ready to get back out (there). We're in the midst of a long, challenging process here. Fortunately, there's a lot of time. … He's been onboard the whole time, but it has been challenging.'
• The Raiders had most of their 90-man roster participating in practice. The most notable absence was defensive end Malcolm Koonce, who's still rehabbing from the torn ACL he suffered last September.
'It was difficult — physically, emotionally, mentally,' Koonce said. 'I should be good soon.'
• Edge rusher Maxx Crosby missed several games last year due to a high ankle sprain and had tightrope surgery in the offseason, but he's healthy again. He was a full participant in practice and is ready to roll.
'I didn't have an offseason,' Crosby said. 'I've been here the whole time. It's been five months of hardcore training and rehabbing every single day. …
'Last year was definitely one of the hardest years of my life, in general. I had so many things going on. I was battling injuries and not being able to be myself. … That was the first time in my career I felt like it was Week 2, and I was on a popped tire. I'm doing everything in my power to try to go out and help my teammates, and at times, I felt like I just wasn't the same. … Being out there with my teammates and being able to fully be myself … it's the best feeling on the planet.'
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• Offensive tackle Thayer Munford was another player who was present but didn't participate in drills on Wednesday. The nature of his injury has not been disclosed.
• On the first play of 11-on-11 team drills, safety Jeremy Chinn jumped a route over the middle and picked off quarterback Geno Smith. A few plays later, receiver Dont'e Thornton beat Chinn on a corner route, and Smith found him in the end zone for a touchdown. While Smith got some payback early on, it ended up being a bumpy practice for the starting quarterback.
In a period where the first-team offense faced off against the second-team defense, the backup defenders managed to hold their own. Smith tried to hit tight end Brock Bowers on a route into the flat, but linebacker Tommy Eichenberg stepped in front and intercepted the pass for what likely would've been a pick six.
On another play against the second-team defense, Smith overthrew his target and was picked off in the back of the end zone by safety Chris Smith II. Carroll has been impressed by how quickly the back seven of his defense has developed a strong chemistry.
'That's what allows guys to think freely and be confident to make the plays and break on the ball and think 'I'm going to get this ball; I'm not just going to defend the play,'' Carroll said. 'Jeremy Chinn has really shown a lot already in leadership. Elandon Roberts has already given us confidence that can spread to the rest of the players. (Eric) Stokes has done a nice job, too; he's jumped right up at the corner spot. So, we're getting really good, positive things from guys that have been there before.'
• Despite the offensive struggles Wednesday, Tre Tucker made the most impressive play of the day on either side of the ball. He beat his matchup on a deep route and got over the top of the safety to get open. Smith had to step backward to buy some extra time but managed to fling the pass downfield before the pressure got home. It was a little too far out in front of Tucker, but he laid out to make the catch and dragged both feet inbounds for a touchdown.
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Tucker started most of last season, but his role could be in jeopardy after the Raiders drafted Thornton and second-rounder Jack Bech. If he keeps making plays like that, though, he'll solidify his place in the rotation.
• Sixth-round pick Tommy Mellott got significant action at slot receiver. The rookie played quarterback in college but is being converted to receiver. On one rep, he made cornerback Darnay Holmes fall on an in-and-out route before hauling in a pass from Smith and turning upfield.
• Rookie cornerback Darien Porter got a lot of reps with the first-team defense. He didn't make any splash plays, but he was able to consistently stick with his matchup for most of practice.
• There's an ongoing competition at left guard. Left tackle Kolton Miller, center Jackson Powers-Johnson, right guard Alex Cappa and right tackle DJ Glaze seem to be locked into starting spots, but Dylan Parham and Jordan Meredith rotated at left guard throughout practice.
• Carroll said the offense had the better practice on Monday, so Wednesday was a bit of revenge for the defense. Defensive coordinator Patrick Graham mixed up his coverages and caught Kelly and the offense off guard. Carroll views the back and forth as a positive, and the players feel the same way.
'That energy is contagious,' Crosby said. 'In football, you can have all the X's and O's and you can be the smartest guy on the planet, but when it really comes down to it and it's really nut-cutting time, it's truly (about) who's going to execute and who's willing to go further. … (We have) guys that are constantly pushing themselves to that level, not just offensively but defensively, too. … If you have a bunch of dawgs on the field that are willing to go to the farthest lengths to win, you're going to have a chance.'
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