Most telling NFL games in Week 1 of the season
Joe Rivera, Chris Bumbaca, and Jacob Camenker give their thoughts on what game to keep an eye on in Week 1 od the NFL season.
Sports Seriously
Brock Bowers may not miss much time after all.
The Las Vegas Raiders’ tight end will miss Week 1 of the NFL season after needing to undergo a meniscus trim procedure on his knee on Tuesday, Sept. 8, according to multiple reports. On Sept. 13, before the Raiders’ season opener against the Miami Dolphins, Bowers got a positive injury update via ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
“The Raiders believe there’s a realistic chance Brock Bowers will miss only one game and return for Week 2 at the Los Angeles Chargers,” Schefter wrote on social media site X. “Team will see how he’s feeling this week, but a potential return next week is within the realm of possibility.”
Bowers has led the Raiders in receptions in both of his seasons in the NFL. Prior to his knee procedure, he appeared set to remain Las Vegas’ top pass-catching target in 2026 given the Raiders’ lack of investment into other options this offseason.
Outside of their pass-catchers, Las Vegas invested heavily in rebuilding their offense in the offseason. The team hired former Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak to be its head coach, signed top free agent center Tyler Linderbaum, signed veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins to replace Geno Smith, and drafted quarterback Fernando Mendoza and running back Mike Washington Jr. to upgrade its offensive weapons.
Though they’ll miss Bowers in Week 1, the Raiders enter 2026 poised to lean heavily on their tight end in their passing game once more as soon as he returns.
Is Brock Bowers playing today?
Bowers has been ruled out of the Raiders’ season-opening game against the Dolphins on Sept. 13. The star third-year tight end underwent a meniscus trim procedure on Tuesday, Sept. 8, and is expected to miss “a game or two,” according to multiple reports.
New reports on Sept. 13 indicate that Bowers could return to the field as soon as the Raiders’ Week 2 clash with the Los Angeles Chargers. ESPN reported that the Raiders are optimistic about their tight end’s recovery so far and that “a potential return next week is within the realm of possibility.”
Raiders TE depth chart
- Brock Bowers (out – knee)
- Michael Mayer
- Ian Thomas
Michael Mayer, the Raiders’ second-round pick in 2023, is set to fill Bowers’ role in his absence to begin 2026. On Sept. 12, one day before Las Vegas’ first game, the team signed Mayer to a three-year, $45 million extension. The deal makes him the league’s sixth-highest-paid tight end by average annual value. He’s coming off of a career year with 35 catches for 328 yards and a touchdown in 2025.
Ian Thomas is back with Las Vegas on a second consecutive one-year deal. Last year, the Raiders primarily used Thomas as an additional blocker, per Pro Football Focus, though he did catch 13 passes for 114 yards.
The Raiders also have two tight ends on their practice squad: Chris Myarick and Patrick Gurd.