Dont’e Thornton is back on the field for the Las Vegas Raiders, but the team is clearly not in any rush to throw him straight into the fire.
Thornton returned to practice on Sunday after missing the preseason opener and several earlier sessions, though he worked off to the side and did it without pads, according to Sam Warren of The Athletic. Head coach Klint Kubiak said Thornton has been “banged up” and added that he expects him back sometime this preseason.
That slow-play approach makes sense for the Raiders, but it also comes at a tricky moment for Thornton. He’s trying to carve out a meaningful role in a crowded receiver group behind Tre Tucker and Jalen Nailor, and every practice he misses gives other names more room to separate.
Rookie Malik Benson has been earning praise for what he’s done downfield and has also been building chemistry with rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza. Meanwhile, free agent addition Dareke Young has been picking up snaps while Thornton has been sidelined.
Thornton’s margin for error isn’t huge. He’s coming off a rookie season in which he caught 10 passes, so he doesn’t have much production to lean on, and Kubiak has already made it clear the receiver battle is wide open.
The good news for Thornton is that the missed time doesn’t hit the Raiders on the salary cap, since he’s still on his rookie deal. The tougher part is what it means for his standing on the depth chart. If he can’t make up ground quickly once he’s healthy, those lost reps could end up costing him snaps and maybe even a roster spot.
For now, the expectation is that Las Vegas will ease him back gradually, moving him into full team work before letting him loose in a preseason game.
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