The Raiders opened up playing time for rookie wide receivers Jack Bech and Dont’e Thornton Jr. when they dealt Jakobi Meyers to the Jaguars on Nov. 4.

Bech and Thornton have shown since that it’s one thing to get more snaps. It’s another thing to make the most of them.

Bech, a second-round pick out of TCU, has one catch for 19 yards in the Raiders’ past two games. Thornton, a fourth-round pick out of Tennessee, has one reception for 4 yards. Both also made critical mistakes in the team’s 10-7 loss to the Broncos on Nov. 6.

Bech, 22, had a holding penalty that wiped out a 32-yard run by rookie running back Ashton Jeanty. Thornton, 22, was flagged for offensive pass interference on what would have been a 31-yard touchdown catch by wide receiver Tre Tucker. He also dropped a deep pass that would have gotten the Raiders (2-8) close to field-goal range at the end of the first half.

Quarterback Geno Smith, for his part, is trying to stay patient with the youngsters.

He said of Thornton: “The more he goes out there and gets those reps, the better he’ll be.”

And of Bech: “He’s continuing to grow, man.”

The jump to the NFL is steep for wide receivers. They’re asked to do more than run routes and catch the ball.

“There’s so many other things about blocking and positioning and getting other guys open and all of the complementary things,” coach Pete Carroll said.

The Raiders still need Bech and Thornton to get up to speed as soon as possible. They don’t have enough playmakers with Meyers gone.

The two understand they have to step up.

“With me and Jack, we’ve got to lean on each other and work to get each other better every single day,” Thornton said. “Whether that’s in here watching film or being on the field at practice, getting a bunch of catches. We both want to be great receivers.”

Smith leads the way

Smith is providing a shoulder for Bech and Thornton to lean on. He’s there for moral support, guidance and motivation.

He even breaks down film with Bech every morning.

“He and I have been studying for the past two weeks, 7 a.m., and I’m just getting him on the board and having him draw plays up and talking me through progressions and just subtle nuances (of the game),” Smith said.

The work has yet to translate to a breakout game. But Bech believes he’s improving.

“Each and every game,” Bech said, “you grow and you get better. You learn. You’re learning new lessons, not only every game, every week. Just how everything works. How the offense works and how the league works.”

Smith has also counseled Thornton. He was thrilled when he saw how Thornton responded after the loss to the Broncos.

“He did exactly what I expected him to,” Smith said. “When we got back, he was out in the field and he was catching those over-the-shoulder passes by himself. And I know, again, how tough that can be when you want to make the plays, when you want to do well.”

Smith knows, as one of the Raiders’ most experienced players, that leadership is expected from him. But he’s invested in Bech and Thornton’s growth. Any hope of improvement for the Raiders’ offense relies on the trio being productive.

“We’ve got to increase these guys’ knowledge and kind of help with that learning curve,” Smith said.

Contact Vincent Bonsignore at vbonsignore@reviewjournal. com. Follow @VinnyBonsignore on X