Ashton Jeanty suits up for Raiders vs. Patriots

This one built slowly. Jeanty was a full participant Wednesday, limited Thursday with a foot issue added to the report, then gone from the media portion of practice Friday.

That made the Friday presser a big deal, and Klint Kubiak didn't give much away. He wouldn't get into the foot at all and shrugged off the bigger picture.

Ryan McFadden

@ryanmcfadden_

#Raiders HC Klint Kubiak said Ashton Jeanty (ankle/foot) is questionable to play vs. New England. Kubiak didn’t get into specifics on the foot injury. “It’s that time of year. Guys are getting banged up.”

Officially Jeanty went from limited to DNP and took a questionable tag into the trip to Massachusetts. Kubiak also said he's going to do his best to go, which is coach-speak for nobody knows yet. The ankle isn't new either. It goes back to late August, and it has followed him all season.

That matters because the Vegas run game was supposed to be the identity of this team and it hasn't been. Through 4 weeks the rushing production has looked a lot like last year's, when the Raiders were at the bottom of nearly every rushing metric. Without their best back, it gets worse in a hurry.

On Saturday Vegas covered itself and elevated RB Roman Hemby, plus WR Deven Thompkins for depth and return work. On Sunday morning we got the first real diagnosis, and the foot problem turned out to be plantar fasciitis, which is about the worst thing a running back can have flare up.

Ian Rapoport

@RapSheet

#Raiders RB Ashton Jeanty, who missed practice late in the week due to a flare up of plantar fasciitis along with an ankle injury, is hopeful to play today, sources say. But it’s not definite and he’ll work out pregame to see how he’s feeling. Las Vegas elevated a RB in case.

So it came down to a pregame workout in Foxborough. Jeanty got on the field early and did a short session while a crowd of decision-makers watched, including GM John Spytek, RB coach Omar Young and OC Andrew Janocko.

Dan Graziano

@DanGrazianoESPN

Jeanty workout lasted roughly nine minutes. As you can see here, many people consulting on the decision on his status for today’s game.

About half an hour later he was back out stretching with the team, and soon after that it was official: Jeanty is a go. The clearest proof is the inactive list, where Hemby, the guy brought up in case Jeanty couldn't go, is sitting.

Ryan McFadden

@ryanmcfadden_

#Raiders inactives: WR Jalen Nailor (concussion), OL Trey Zuhn III (knee), Safety Tristin McCollum, RB Roman Hemby, Safety Dalton Johnson, QB Aidan O'Connell (Emergency 3rd QB) and DT JJ Pegues.

Now the question is what active really means. If Jeanty gets his normal workload, Vegas is fine. If he's limited, or the foot tightens up during the game, the backfield gets very thin with Hemby inactive. And with reports saying he might need a week off at some point to get the ankle right, this probably isn't the last time we're watching a pregame workout.