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Will Dont’e Thornton Make a Difference for the Raiders’ Offense?
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- Will Dont’e Thornton Make a Difference for the Raiders’ Offense?
The Raiders brought Dont'e Thornton off injured reserve on Tuesday, putting him on the active roster for the first time this season. But the second-year wide receiver might not see the field very often.
Thornton was placed on injured reserve before the start of the season due to a hamstring injury. He missed the first seven games of the season, but could make his season debut in Week 8.
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Last season was a difficult rookie year for Thornton. He had 10 catches for 135 yards while playing in 15 games. The Raiders refused to use most of their 2025 rookie class, and Thornton was no exception. This season might look the same. Thornton returns to a team in need of wide receivers, but he is unlikely to provide any spark.
Tre Tucker is off to a great start and could price himself out of Las Vegas. But beyond Tucker, no wide receiver has topped 150 yards on the year. Jalen Nailor, signed to be the number two wideout, has been unproductive with just 75 yards in six games. Jack Bech is out with a fractured forearm.
But Thornton never established himself as a possible weapon in training camp. He never surpassed Nailor or Bech, and he was even jumped by rookie Malik Benson during camp. Benson has been a non-factor in the offense with two catches for 12 yards.
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Thornton's return could push Benson to be inactive on game day. Tucker, Nailor and Cody White are the top three wide receivers on the team now. Dareke Young has played over 100 special teams snaps, making him likely to play on Sundays. The Raiders probably won't carry six wide receivers, especially considering Benson and Thornton rarely play special teams.
The coaching staff could tell us a lot about how they view these wide receivers based on who is inactive against the Jets in Week 8.
"He's got to take the spot of another guy," head coach Klint Kubiak said.
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But that doesn't even include the return of Bech. He is back to practice and could return soon. Once Bech is back, he will likely join Tucker and Nailor as the top three options. That would push White to a fourth wide receiver role and leave Young, Thornton and Benson fighting for one spot.
Thornton was drafted in the fourth round just last season, but his time as a Raider could be limited if he doesn't make an immediate impact on his return from injury.
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This story was originally published by Athlon on Oct 29, 2026, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add Athlon as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
