Raiders Face Deadline That Could End Young Receiver's Season

The Las Vegas Raiders are running out of time to make a decision on wide receiver Dont'e Thornton Jr.

And despite being healthy enough to practice, the second-year receiver won't be playing Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams.

Coach Klint Kubiak confirmed Friday that Thornton will not be activated from injured reserve for the Week 7 matchup at Allegiant Stadium.

That leaves Las Vegas facing an important deadline.

Thornton returned to practice Oct. 7, opening a 21-day window for the Raiders to evaluate him before deciding whether to add him to their active roster.

That window expires Wednesday, Oct. 28.

If Thornton isn't activated by then, he will remain on injured reserve for the rest of the 2026 season.

The decision comes despite Thornton participating fully in practice this week.

According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Kubiak acknowledged Friday that Thornton has returned to full practice but still needs time to regain his football conditioning.

"He's making big progress," Kubiak said. "He's done a lot of good things in practice."

The coach added that Thornton is still working to regain his football legs after missing considerable time.

Thornton suffered a hamstring injury during training camp and was placed on injured reserve Aug. 31.

He has yet to make his 2026 regular-season debut.

The Raiders selected Thornton in the fourth round of the 2025 NFL Draft out of Tennessee, attracted by his unusual combination of size and speed.

At 6-foot-5, Thornton ran the 40-yard dash in 4.30 seconds, giving Las Vegas a potential deep threat.

But his rookie production was limited.

Thornton caught 10 passes for 135 yards without a touchdown in 15 games last season.

His continued absence comes at a difficult time for the Raiders' receiving corps.

Las Vegas has already been forced to add reinforcements at wide receiver, including the signing of former Cleveland Browns receiver Jamari Thrash to the practice squad.

Jack Bech has also been sidelined with a fractured forearm, leaving the Raiders searching for dependable options beyond Tre Tucker.

And with the offense struggling to establish consistency, Thornton's size and speed could provide another dimension to the passing attack.

For now, though, Kubiak isn't ready to put him on the field.

The Raiders have only a few days left to determine whether Thornton can contribute this season.

Otherwise, the young receiver's second NFL campaign could end without him playing a single snap.