How a shocking injury setback threatens to ruin the Raiders’ season before it even starts
The Raiders' season opener will be impacted by the absence of one of their top offensive weapons.
The Las Vegas Raiders appeared to be heading into Week 1 against the Miami Dolphins at full strength. Running back Ashton Jeanty had even returned to practice after recovering from the ankle sprain he suffered before the final preseason game. But the team, co-owned by Tom Brady , has now been dealt a major blow.
That optimism quickly disappeared when star tight end Brock Bowers was absent from Wednesday's practice. Shortly afterward, ESPN's Adam Schefter revealed the reason.
“Raiders All-Pro tight end Brock Bowers underwent a meniscus trim Tuesday in Dallas with Dr. Daniel Cooper and now is expected to miss ‘a game or two,’ league sources told Ian Rapoport and me. Bowers got banged up ‘a little in camp’ and the injury was diagnosed last week and surgery scheduled,” Schefter wrote on X .
The news is a devastating setback for Las Vegas. Although Bowers saw limited action during the preseason, he was one of the standout performers in training camp, with many projecting him as a potential record-breaker and even a candidate for NFL Offensive Player of the Year .
All signs point to the All-Pro tight end missing the season opener against Miami, and the organization is hoping that's the extent of his absence. Otherwise, the Raiders will be without their most dangerous receiving weapon at the start of the season. If that happens, Michael Mayer will be expected to step into a much larger role.
A major setback for the Raiders' offense
Bowers' injury dramatically changes the outlook for Las Vegas' offense. Widely regarded as one of the NFL's premier pass-catching tight ends, he was expected to make up for a wide receiver group that, on paper, ranks among the league's least explosive.
His absence leaves the Raiders with fewer options in the passing game for the opener and could even extend into Week 2 . While the rebuilding Dolphins may present a manageable challenge, the task becomes far more difficult against the Los Angeles Chargers .
Even if Bowers returns for that matchup, questions remain about how effective he will be coming off knee surgery.
ESPN's Ryan McFadden recently emphasized just how important Bowers is to the Raiders' offensive plans.
Brock Bowers continues to show why he is one of the best players at his position. He has constantly made plays throughout training camp. And no matter who is at quarterback, he will be a security blanket in the passing game. But Michael Mayer has a chance to make the room even stronger. Mayer has had a strong camp, and the Raiders will rely on him quite a bit. On top of that, his blocking skills stand out on tape.
Fernando Mendoza avoids an even tougher situation
Amid the bad news, the Raiders can at least take comfort in one thing: rookie Fernando Mendoza will not be the team's starting quarterback to open the season.
Instead, veteran Kirk Cousins will lead the offense, bringing the experience needed to navigate the loss of his top target. For Mendoza, making his NFL debut without a reliable security blanket like Brock Bowers would have been an even greater challenge.
