The Las Vegas Raiders gave rookie wide receivers Dont’e Thornton Jr. and Jack Bech an opportunity to earn extensive snaps in Thursday’s Week 10 loss to the Denver Broncos. Both inexperienced players wasted their opportunity to establish themselves on offense following the Jakobi Meyers trade. Thornton and Bech made huge mistakes.
Bech committed an unnecessary holding penalty that eliminated an explosive Ashton Jeanty run. A Thornton pass interference penalty wiped out a 4th-and-2 conversion and possible touchdown. Thornton later dropped a Geno Smith deep ball that would have given the Raiders an opportunity to get three critical points before the half.
Despite the mental errors, the Raiders must provide Bech and Thornton with fresh opportunities against the Dallas Cowboys on Monday Night Football in Week 11. The Raiders essentially enjoyed a mini-bye following the Thursday Night defeat. Pete Carroll and staff surely used that extra time to help coach Thornton and Bech through their struggles.
Tyler Lockett led the Raiders in receiving against the Broncos, registering five receptions for 44 yards. That simply can’t happen again. Lockett is a past-his-prime asset who signed with the Raiders roughly two weeks ago.
The 2-7 Raiders must focus on developing ascending talents. Thornton and Bech have been disappointing, but there’s untapped potential worth further exploring. The Raiders can’t bench Thornton and Bech. They must keep supporting and teaching them.
