Raiders activate Dont'e Thornton Jr. from IR ahead of Jets game

The Las Vegas Raiders activated wide receiver Dont'e Thornton Jr. from injured reserve on Tuesday. The team announced the move on its official account, and Raiders PR listed it alongside two other roster moves.

Here is what is confirmed. Thornton is back on the 53-man roster. To make room, Las Vegas waived defensive tackle Jonah Laulu, and the club also released wide receiver Jamari Thrash from the practice squad. Sam Gordon of the Las Vegas Review-Journal had the activation from a league source minutes before the team posted it.

The timing was not optional. Thornton's 21-day practice window was set to close Wednesday, and the Raiders had to activate him by then or lose him for the season. They passed on activating him for last week's game against the Rams. Coach Klint Kubiak said Monday that the call didn't have to be made until Wednesday, and last week he called Thornton "close," adding that he was still working on getting his football legs back after missing a lot of time.

The receiver room around him is crowded but thin on proven production. Ryan McFadden of the Review-Journal lists Tre Tucker, Jalen Nailor, Malik Benson, Thornton, Cody White and Dareke Young as the active group. Jack Bech, recovering from a forearm fracture, is designated to return to practice this week, so another body is coming.

Las Vegas plays at the New York Jets on Sunday, Nov. 1, at 1 PM ET.

What RSO owners should do now

If Thornton has been sitting in an IR slot on your roster, move him back to the active roster or a reserve spot before your league's lineup lock. He is no longer IR-eligible now that he has been activated.

Don't start him this week. He is coming off a long layoff, the coaches have talked about building his legs back up, and the targets are spread across several receivers. Treat him as a stash with deep-league upside. In dynasty formats, hold him unless you need the roster spot.

What to watch next

Watch Wednesday's practice report and whether Thornton gets a full workload. His snap share against the Jets will show where he sits in the rotation. Bech's return to practice is the other piece, since his activation would add another receiver to the mix.