Player Bio
| HT/WT: 6-5, 205 lbs |
| Birthplace: Baltimore, MD |
| Age: 23 |
| School: Tennessee |
| Experience: 2 |
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8:21Biggest Questions After Camp: AFC West
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1:42Malik Benson Emerging as Legit WR Option
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1:39Highlights: Dylan Sampson, Dont'e Thornton Jr. and James Pearce Jr. at Tennessee's Pro Day
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1:34Dont'e Thornton Jr. reveals his favorite NFL Combine meeting and the pro wide receiver he resembles most
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1:06Tennessee WR Dont'e Thornton Jr. details mindset change that led to his big-play success in 2024
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10:40Breaking News: Brock Bowers Out Week 1
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1:59What More Does Sam Darnold Have to Prove?
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2:10Week 1 NFL Picks: Dolphins at Raiders
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0:37Tre Tucker emerges As WR1 in Raiders Offense
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0:40Draft Great or Late For Tight Ends
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0:46When Should Raiders Start QB Fernando Mendoza?
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1:07How To Spend Jerry's Money: Trade For And Pay Maxx Crosby
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1:02How To Spend Jerry's Money: Trade For And Pay Christian Gonzalez
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1:21Buy Now or Wait?: Rams to Win the Super Bowl
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1:24Next Steps for Raiders QB Fernando Mendoza
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1:02
Kirk Cousins Officially Named Raiders Starting QB
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12:50NFL News: Skattebo Antics & Cousins Named Raiders Starting QB
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0:40Burning Fantasy Questions No. 8: Bowers or McBride?
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1:59NFL Futures: Top Passing Prop
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Top Dont'e Thornton Jr. News
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Raiders' Dont'e Thornton: Sent to injured reserve
The Raiders placed Thornton (undisclosed) on injured reserve Monday.
It's still unclear what is bothering Thornton, but he'll now be required to miss at least the first four games of the regular season. The 2025 fourth-rounder corralled just 10 of 30 targets for 135 scoreless yards across 15 regular-season appearances as a rookie last season and missed the entire preseason this summer. Under a new coaching staff, it's unclear what kind of role Thornton will have this season once healthy.
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Raiders' Dont'e Thornton: Still not practicing
Thornton (undisclosed) didn't practice Monday, Sam Warren of The Athletic reports.
Per Levi Damien of USA Today, Thornton has been missing from practice for the past of couple weeks and has yet to play this preseason. When he's able to return,Thornton will look to reestablish his slotting in a Raiders WR corps that also includes Tre Tucker, Jalen Nailor, Jack Bech and Malik Benson.
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Raiders' Dont'e Thornton: Misses reps
Thornton (undisclosed) did not participate in Sunday's practice, Sam Warren of The Athletic reports.
Thornton was present at the Raiders' facility doing work off to the side out of pads. The wide receiver missed Thursday's preseason opener against the Cardinals and will continue to miss valuable reps as he recovers from a minor issue. The missed reps allow Malik Benson and Jack Bech to extend their lead in the competition for the No. 3 receiver spot, with Benson in particular pulling ahead as he continues to see reps with the first-team offense.
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Raiders' Dont'e Thornton: Set to return during preseason
Thornton (undisclosed) did not play in Thursday night's preseason opener against the Cardinals.
The wide receiver exited last Friday's practice with an injury. Ryan McFadden of ESPN.com reported that Thornton is expected to return to the field at some point during the preseason, but there is no specific week targeted. The Raiders' receiving room is currently wide open, and the more time the 23-year-old misses, the harder it will be to take one of the top slots.
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Raiders' Dont'e Thornton: Still dealing with injury
Thornton (undisclosed) did not participate at the Raiders' training camp practice Tuesday, Ryan McFadden of ESPN.com reports.
Thornton left practice early last week Friday after presumably suffering some type of injury, and he still hasn't been able to make his way back onto the practice field. If he can't play in Thursday's preseason contest versus the Cardinals, it could open up more opportunities for rookie sixth-rounder Malik Benson and offseason free-agent acquisition Dareke Young.
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Raiders' Dont'e Thornton: Leaves Friday's practice early
Thornton (undisclosed) exited Friday's practice early, Sam Warren of The Athletic reports.
Thornton, who is coming off a 2025 season in which he caught 10 passes for 135 yards on 30 targets over 15 games, is competing with Jack Bech and Malik Benson for slotting in a Las Vegas WR corps that's led by Tre Tucker and Jalen Nailor. Any missed time won't help his cause, but in any case the team's No. 3 option at the position may not see heavy volume in 2026, with two-TE sets featuring Brock Bowers and Michael Mayer likely to be used frequently this season.
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Raiders' Dont'e Thornton: Ends rookie season with 10 catches
Thornton finished his rookie campaign with 10 total receptions for 135 yards on 30 targets over 15 games.
Thornton was expected to be more of a developmental project when the Raiders selected him 108th overall in the 2025 NFL Draft out of Tennessee, but a 10-135-0 receiving line for the 6-foot-5, 205-pound burner was still a major disappointment considering the underwhelming target competition in Las Vegas. That being said, Thornton could compete for a starting WR role on the outside across from Tre Tucker in 2026 if the new regime doesn't address the position in the offseason, though tight end Brock Bowers (knee) is set to remain a focal point in the passing game as well. Nonetheless, fellow rookie receiver Jack Bech was a slightly more productive option than Thornton down the stretch.
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Raiders' Dont'e Thornton: Four targets in blowout loss
Thornton caught two of four targets for 12 yards in Sunday's 34-10 loss to the Giants.
Thornton filled the WR2 role behind Tre Tucker with fellow rookie Jack Bech (back) sidelined for Sunday's contest, but Thornton averaged just 3.0 yards per target while playing 78 percent of the Raiders' offensive snaps. If Bech manages to return for a Week 18 matchup against the Chiefs, Thornton's involvement could diminish.
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Raiders' Dont'e Thornton: Logs four snaps in defeat
Thornton was not targeted in Sunday's 23-21 loss to the Texans.
Thornton played just four offensive snaps in the Raiders' ninth consecutive defeat, while fellow rookie receiver Jack Bech caught two of three targets for 43 yards in the WR2 role behind Tre Tucker. Thornton has not caught a pass since Week 13, and he's even ceded playing time to punt returner Alex Bachman.
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Raiders' Dont'e Thornton: Not targeted against Philadelphia
Thornton failed to record a single target in Sunday's 31-0 loss to the Eagles.
Thornton played just eight of the Raiders' 42 offensive snaps, behind fellow wide receivers Tre Tucker (39), Jack Bech (34) and Tyler Lockett (32). The rookie wideout has had an underwhelming start to his career, recording just eight receptions on 25 targets for 123 yards in 12 appearances. Thornton should continue to develop, but it appears the Raiders are unlikely to expand his role in the final stretch of the season. The Tennessee product remains far off the fantasy radar heading into a Week 16 matchup against the Texans.
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Raiders' Dont'e Thornton: Cleared for Week 15
Thornton (concussion) doesn't carry an injury designation for Sunday's game against the Eagles.
After being limited Wednesday, Thornton worked fully Thursday and Friday, and in the process he progressed through the NFL's concussion protocol. However, with an 8-123-0 line on 25 targets through 11 games, Thornton is off the fantasy radar while working in a Las Vegas WR corps that also includes Tre Tucker, Jack Bech and Tyler Lockett.
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Raiders' Dont'e Thornton: Full practice Thursday
Thornton (concussion) practiced fully Thursday.
Thornton was limited at practice Wednesday, but his return to a full session a day later has him on track to play Sunday against the Eagles, barring any setbacks. Friday's injury report will reveal whether the wideout heads into the weekend with an injury designation, but with an 8-123-0 line on 25 targets through 11 games, Thornton is off the fantasy radar.
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Raiders' Dont'e Thornton: Limited practice Wednesday
Thornton (concussion) was limited at practice Wednesday.
Ryan McFadden of ESPN.com previously indicated that Thornton -- who was inactive in Week 14 -- had cleared the NFL's concussion protocol, but the wideout was nonetheless deemed limited Wednesday. He'll have two more opportunities to upgrade his participation level before the Raiders assign game statuses for Sunday's game against the Eagles.
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Raiders' Dont'e Thornton: Clears concussion protocol
Thornton has cleared concussion protocol, Ryan McFadden of ESPN.com reports.
Thornton will be available for Sunday's game at Philadelphia, but the extent of his role is unclear, especially after fellow rookie Jack Bech stepped up with six catches in Thornton's absence during a loss to the Broncos this past Sunday.
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Raiders' Dont'e Thornton: Ruled out for Week 14
Thornton (concussion) has been ruled out ahead of Sunday's game against the Broncos, Ryan McFadden of ESPN.com reports.
Thornton suffered a concussion in the Raiders' Week 13 loss to the Chargers and couldn't practice at all during the week. That suggests he hasn't made much progress through the league's concussion protocol. Jack Bech is expected to have a chance to step up in Thornton's absence.
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