FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — Ashton Jeanty and the Las Vegas Raiders will have to wait until Sunday to see how the New York Jets tackle his tackling criticisms.
The second-year running back raised some eyebrows Wednesday when he took a surprising shot at the Jets' defense, saying it has “a couple guys out there that don’t really want to tackle.”
Jeanty declined to name any specific players, but said he thought he and the Raiders' struggling run game could get in gear when they play the Jets at MetLife Stadium.
“Yeah, saw it, heard it,” linebacker Demario Davis said Thursday. “I actually have no comment to that, specifically. I think that as a defense as a whole, our best football is in front of us and we're looking forward to putting that on display this week. It's a great opportunity this Sunday to play our best football.”
Jeanty's curious comments come as the Raiders enter on a four-game skid and their running game one of their early season issues. Las Vegas is ranked 31st in the NFL while averaging 74.7 yards rushing per game, ahead of only Green Bay (59.9). And Jeanty, the Raiders' first-round pick last year, is averaging just 3.1 yards per carry.
New York ranks 24th in the league against the run, giving up 127.7 yards per game. That comes after Ollie Gordon ran for 103 yards and a touchdown in Miami's 28-25 victory.
“I think across the league, there's always bulletin board material,” Davis said. “It's not uncommon in this game.”
When asked if he thought this particular criticism from Jeanty might resonate with the Jets, Davis shrugged it off.
“I mean, it's called bulletin board material, you know?” Davis said. “It's nothing other than that. I'm big on the game is played inside the white lines.”
Davis' teammates and coaches took a similar approach, declining to fire back at Jeanty.
“I did see those comments,” defensive coordinator Brian Duker said. “I've got plenty of confidence in our guys.”
Safety Minkah Fitzpatrick laughed off the comment, adding that he wasn't surprised a young player such as Jeanty would make such a bold claim. Fitzpatrick also said the Jets wouldn't make it a rallying point, although he and his teammates spoke about it.
“Of course, whenever our name is brought up, whether it be by an opponent or a past opponent, it catches our eye,” Fitzpatrick said. "But the way that I operate, I go out there and play (with) 110% effort no matter who I'm playing against, no matter what they said.
“Obviously, certain things can add a little more fuel to the fire, but at the end of the day, I've got to go out there and do my job. And I feel like most of the guys in this locker room operate in that same fashion.”
While not lending any credence to Jeanty's comments about some players not wanting to tackle, Duker acknowledged that the Jets need to fix some of their ongoing issues in the run defense and mentioned the scheme and technique as culprits.
“I think it could be better,” Duker said. “Overall, there’s certainly room for improvement. I’m always going to want more in that area as well. That’s how I feel about it overall.”
The defense could be without three starters on Sunday. Rookie David Bailey (groin), fellow edge rusher Joseph Ossai (ankle) and defensive tackle T'Vondre Sweat (knee) sat out practice a second straight day. Coach Aaron Glenn said Wednesday that Bailey, who leads the Jets with 5 1/2 sacks, would be evaluated through the week but Ossai and Sweat would be week to week.
Running back Braelon Allen was a full participant after being limited Wednesday with an ankle issue. Running back Breece Hall (quadriceps) and left guard Dylan Parham (knee), both of whom have missed four games, were limited.
See AP’s full NFL coverage here
New York Jets free safety Minkah Fitzpatrick (29) celebrates after recovering a New England Patriots fumble during the second half of an NFL football game in Foxborough, Mass., Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Mark Stockwell)
Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty looks on prior to an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)
DETROIT (AP) — Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed will campaign Sunday in Detroit alongside former primary rival Rep. Haley Stevens, marking their first public appearance together in months after a week in which lingering divisions spilled into public view.
The two will be joined by South Carolina Rep. Jim Clyburn, one of the country's most prominent Black politicians, at a get-out-the-vote event at a Detroit church, according to two people familiar with the plans who were not authorized to discuss them publicly.
The joint appearance — their first since a Democratic unity breakfast days after the Aug. 4 primary — comes after weeks of Democrats struggling to unite behind El-Sayed after he defeated Stevens by a razor-thin margin. She received significant support from the Jewish and Black communities, leading to concerns about turnout in the general election.
Tensions again spilled into public view Wednesday when Stevens' fiance, Jason Turkish, told The Detroit News that he would vote for Republican Mike Rogers.
Hours later, Stevens appeared on CNN to reaffirm that she would be voting for El-Sayed, but urged his campaign to “shut out the hate and call it out.”
“Make people who are in my coalition, right, make them feel comfortable about coming to the polls,” said Stevens, who drew significant support from Jewish and Black voters during the primary.
El-Sayed's criticism of Israel, past remarks and associations with controversial streamer Hasan Piker have long drawn concern from some in Michigan's large Jewish community. Turkish and others in the Jewish community have said El-Sayed hasn't done enough to address concerns ahead of the general election.
The latest controversy centered on an ad by Rebellion PAC, an independent left-wing group, that linked U.S. support for Israel to high grocery prices.
“That has nothing to do with our campaign,” El-Sayed said of the ad. “It’s certainly not what I want to be talking about right now.”
Stevens and other Democrats urged him to go further to denounce the content of the advertisement rather than merely distancing himself from it.
Republicans face political challenges of their own, particularly voter dissatisfaction with Trump, the Iran war and high costs. Rogers has remained closely aligned with the president on most issues, appearing alongside him at a Michigan rally Sunday where he credited Trump with bringing manufacturing jobs back to the state.
The rally took place in Port Huron, just across the river from Canada, a country with deep economic ties to Michigan that Trump has targeted with tariffs.
El-Sayed has held campaign events in heavily Republican areas, including Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. His team also released an ad featuring clips of prominent conservative figures praising him, including former Fox News host Tucker Carlson, who has faced accusations of antisemitism that he denies.
But the ad created another source of friction with some Jewish voters.
Rabbi Aaron Starr of Congregation Shaarey Zedek in Southfield criticized both the Rebellion PAC ad and El-Sayed’s campaign ad during a call with reporters.
“We are one week away from the election, and it feels like the temperature has turned way up,” Starr said. “Instead of things getting better over the last seven weeks, they’ve actually gotten worse.”
Rogers, meanwhile, appeared Wednesday with Republican Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas at an event hosted by the Republican Jewish Coalition in Birmingham, Michigan. Cruz called antisemitism “a poison that is ripping the country apart” and accused Democrats of being taken over by “self-proclaimed communists and Islamists.”
Trump has repeatedly attacked El-Sayed’s Muslim faith, calling him a “jihadist” and saying Sunday that he was “on the side of terrorists.”
Both candidates are trying to win over Black voters, particularly in Detroit's Wayne County, where Stevens defeated El-Sayed in the Democratic primary.
El-Sayed is expected to campaign Sunday in the Detroit area with Rep. James Clyburn of South Carolina, part of an effort to shore up support among Black voters. Much of El-Sayed's final campaign stretch has included events in Detroit aimed at increasing turnout.
Rogers has also sought to make inroads with Black voters. He visited a reading remediation program at a Detroit high school and discussed housing costs with residents in Pontiac, north of the city. Earlier this month, his wife handed out $10 gift cards at a gas station.
The gesture drew criticism from Ruby Farmer, a 68-year-old Detroit retiree.
“You’re giving out gas cards in the inner city, you never would come for any other reason,” Farmer said.
While Farmer has a bit of difficulty pronouncing El-Sayed's name, she cast her ballot for him three weeks ago anyways. El-Sayed has come out in opposition to policies by Trump — policies Farmer says directly impact her family.
“I have a special-needs son,” said Farmer. “He depends on Medicaid. Medicaid has been cut, and for home care workers in Michigan all the benefits are on hold.”
Cappelletti reported from Washington.
President Donald Trump, right, greets Mike Rogers, a Michigan Republican candidate for Senate, on stage during a campaign rally at McMorran Place Sports and Entertainment Center, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026, in Port Huron, Mich. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas greets supporters for Republican nominee for U.S. Senate Mike Rogers during a campaign event Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026, in Grosse Pointe Woods, Mich. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Republican nominee for U.S. Senate Mike Rogers greets supporters during a campaign event Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026, in Grosse Pointe Woods, Mich. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Former President Barack Obama, center, joined by Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate Abdul El-Sayed, left, and Democratic gubernatorial nominee and Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, right with Secretary of State nominee, Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist, second from right and Attorney General nominee Eli Savit, second from left, clasp hands after a campaign event at Cass Technical High School Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026, in Detroit.(AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed speaks to a crowd during a rally, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026, in Grand Rapids, Mich. (AP Photo/Kristen Norman)
