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Will Raiders’ Wide Receivers Jack Bech or Dont’e Thornton Play This Week?
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- Will Raiders’ Wide Receivers Jack Bech or Dont’e Thornton Play This Week?
The Raiders have been without both of their second-year wide receivers due to injury, but Jack Bech and Dont'e Thornton are back at practice and could play in Week 8.
Bech fractured his forearm in Week 3 and went on injured reserve. He is eligible to return and has been practicing this week. However, he hasn't been added to the active roster. If Las Vegas is going to use Bech this week, someone will have to be released to make room.
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Head coach Klint Kubiak was asked if Bech would be activated before Sunday's game and kept his answer about as vague as possible.
"We got til tomorrow. We'll see who it is going to be," Kubiak told the media.
Thornton has been added back to the active roster. He has missed the entirety of the season after suffering a hamstring injury in preseason. The Raiders decided to get rid of defensive tackle Jonah Laulu when Thornton was activated.
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Even though Thornton is on the active roster, he isn't guaranteed to play on Sunday. Kubiak managed to be even more cryptic when asked about Thornton playing on Sunday simply responding with "TBD".
Bech started the season as the third wideout. He even caught his first-career touchdown in Week 1. But he only put up 48 yards across the first two games of the season before getting injured in Week 3.
Last season was a massive disappointment for the second-round pick. He had just 224 yards while playing in 16 games. The Raiders selected Bech fairly early in the 2025 draft to help solidify the wide receiver room, but he has failed to do so.
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Thornton was picked in the fourth round of the same draft and has been even less productive. He had 135 yards last season, and like Bech, didn't catch a touchdown. His lower draft status depressed expectations, but he has still not worked out like Las Vegas hoped.
Ultimately both players are fighting for limited snaps and limited targets. The Raiders passing game is flowing through Brock Bowers, Tre Tucker and Ashton Jeanty. Even Jalen Nailor, the second wide receiver on the team, is struggling to have any impact.
Even if Bech and Thornton play in Week 8, they may rarely see the field or the ball.
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This story was originally published by Athlon on Oct 30, 2026, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add Athlon as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
