With the Raiders stuck in a four-game slide, every move is getting picked apart - and that includes the small stuff that can quietly reshape the roster. The latest example came with Dont’e Thornton Jr. returning to the active roster, a move that helped one young receiver but also pushed Jonah Laulu off the team.
That’s the kind of domino effect that makes this week worth watching in Las Vegas. Thornton Jr. being back is obviously a boost, but the corresponding decision to release Laulu changed the picture along the defensive line.
Laulu has been with the Raiders since he was claimed before the 2024 season, and he carved out a real role in the defensive tackle rotation, often starting and logging heavy snap shares. This season, though, he had clearly slipped out of favor in his hometown.
Even then, his story in Las Vegas may not be finished. The Raiders opened a practice squad spot when they made the Thornton Jr. move, so there’s at least a chance Laulu circles back there. At the same time, another roster wrinkle is already looming: Jack Bech appears to be returning from injury this week, and that would require another spot.
That leaves the Raiders with a simple problem and no obvious easy answer. They probably don’t want seven wide receivers on the active roster, which could make someone like Dareke Young the odd man out if the team decides to shuffle pieces around.
That would fit with the fact that WR Jamari Thrash was waived Tuesday, a move that could be replaced by another receiver. And with two defensive tackles already on the practice squad, Laulu may not have a clear path back.
Elsewhere, former Raider Zay Jones has signed with the Cardinals. Jones hasn’t found a steady footing since leaving Las Vegas, and now he’s back in Arizona after a two-year stint there from 2024 to 2025. At this point, it feels like the final chance he’ll get to make something happen in his career if he doesn’t find traction soon.
The trade chatter around Maxx Crosby is also back. Crosby stayed out of it for the first six weeks, but once the Raiders’ record slipped below .500, the rumors started up again. The chatter says he could be dealt, and with this losing streak still hanging over the team, that speculation isn’t going away any time soon.
On the field, Tre Tucker keeps making his case louder. He was the Raiders’ best thing in the passing game over the last two weeks, and in Week 7 he backed that up again with five catches for a game-high 103 yards and a touchdown. That kind of production keeps strengthening his push for an extension.
There were a few other bright spots worth noting from the loss to the Rams. Trey Zuhn III got the rookie nod despite playing only a handful of offensive snaps, which says more about how steady he looked than anything else.
DJ Glaze also earned mention for continuing to hold his own on the offensive line, even with a few missed assignments on Sunday. He has pushed back the talk about the Raiders drafting a replacement.
On the defensive side, Nakobe Dean’s diving interception stood out even though it didn’t affect the final outcome. He capitalized on a dropped pass by one of the Rams’ tight ends and made the play with a full-extension dive at the last second. For a game already tilting badly, it was the kind of effort that still matters in a lopsided loss.
The low point came when Puka Nacua broke through the Raiders’ defense for a touchdown. He had been causing problems early anyway, and then he turned a simple hitch route into a 21-7 deficit by running through a cluster of Las Vegas defenders. That was the kind of snap that shut the door on any momentum the Raiders had left.
As for the trade deadline, the Raiders still don’t look like a team gearing up to buy. John Spytek’s approach and the team’s current position both point away from major spending, and likely away from aggressive moves altogether. The Colts already made two notable deals on Tuesday, sending out Quenton Nelson and DeForest Buckner - both strong players at positions of need for Las Vegas - but they came at a price in money and draft capital that may not match where the Raiders are right now.
That doesn’t mean nothing is there to be had. Josh Downs could be one name to watch, and he’d fit in Klint Kubiak’s offense. For Las Vegas, the task is clear: find someone who can help now, can still matter later in the rebuild, and won’t cost the kind of draft capital that strips away future flexibility.
In Other News...
Raiders Just Put Dont'e Thornton Jr. Under A Real Spotlight
The Raiders have finally brought Dont'e Thornton Jr. back onto the active roster, a move that comes after head coach Klint Kubiak had been non-committal about whether the rookie receiver would be ready in time. His return gives Las Vegas another pass-catching option at a time when the offense could use all the help it can get, especially with Jack Bech also expected back at practice soon after a broken forearm.
Thornton's activation also forced a roster decision, and the Raiders chose to make it on the defensive side of the ball. For a team still sorting out how its receiving mix will look moving forward, the timing adds a little more pressure to Thornton to show he can contribute quickly and make the most of the opening he was given. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders May Have Let A Rare O-Line Chance Slip Away
Four straight losses have turned the Raiders from a team trying to hang around the playoff picture into one that has to think about the trade deadline very differently. At 3-4, the conversation in Las Vegas is no longer just about adding help for a push, but about whether the roster needs bigger-picture fixes, especially along an offensive line that has been under the microscope for much of the season.
So when a rare name like Quenton Nelson suddenly came off the board, it was the sort of move that naturally makes the Raiders wonder what might have been. Nelson would have fit the kind of upgrade this offense could use, but his availability came with the usual complications tied to his contract and the timing of where Las Vegas appears to be headed as a team. In a year that already looks like it could tilt toward rebuilding, chances to land a premium lineman do not come along often. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Fans Should Watch One AFC Team Closely Before The Trade Deadline
With the trade deadline nearing, the AFC has started to separate into teams that look ready to make a move and teams that are more likely to sit tight. ESPNs Jeremy Fowler said the Chargers have not shown interest in dealing players, even while pointing to Khalil Mack, Quentin Johnston and Donte Jackson as names to monitor, while the Chiefs could be forced to look at receiver help before the deadline, with Josh Downs and Jerry Jeudy mentioned as possible fits.
The Jets are another team worth watching from a Raiders perspective because their situation keeps pulling attention in different directions. The Athletics Zack Rosenblatt said Garrett Wilson is unlikely to be moved unless New York gets a massive return, while Aaron Glenn is expected to keep coaching through the season despite growing pressure to improve the team. If the Jets decide to get aggressive, their decisions could ripple beyond New York and shape the market for Las Vegas as it tries to track who is actually available. [Read more 🡒]