Las Vegas made room by releasing defensive tackle Jonah Laulu as its losing streak hits four games.
The Raiders gave Dont'e Thornton another chance to prove himself, activating the second-year wide receiver from injured reserve on Tuesday. The move comes as Las Vegas tries to stop the bleeding after dropping four straight games.
To clear a roster spot, the Raiders released defensive tackle Jonah Laulu in a corresponding transaction. Thornton now returns to a Raiders offense searching for answers, and the team is betting his return can provide a spark among its skill-position options.
Thornton's season had been on hold while he recovered, and this activation keeps his year alive with a chance to contribute down the stretch. For a Raiders team mired in a four-game slide, adding back an offensive piece is a small but notable step as they look to turn things around.