Raiders' Thornton Lands on Injured List, Shaking Up Receiver Depth
The Las Vegas Raiders placed wide receiver Dont'e Thornton Jr. on the reserve/injured list, sidelining him until at least Week 5. Thornton had been primarily contributing on special teams during the offseason. In a corresponding move, the team signed linebacker Segun Olubi to the active roster.
Thornton Jr., a fourth-round pick in the 2025 draft, entered the league with a 4.30-second 40-yard dash that made him an intriguing deep threat. His rookie production was modest, with 10 catches for 135 yards and no touchdowns. The injury sidelines him through at least the first four weeks, with his earliest possible return coming in Week 5 at New England.
The Raiders' corresponding roster move brought linebacker Segun Olubi onto the active roster. Head coach Klint Kubiak's offseason addition of Malik Benson, a receiver with a similar speed-first profile, may signal shifting confidence in Thornton's role. Meanwhile, fellow 2025 draftee Jack Bech has shown signs of a second-year breakout under Kubiak's system.
Thornton's absence primarily affects the Raiders' special teams unit, where he had been carving out a role, and limits depth in a receiving corps that lacks proven playmakers. For a second-year player, missing early-season development time could slow his trajectory,