The Raiders will be without Brock Bowers to start the season. As with any team without its star player, the options to replace the star tight end are bleak.
Bowers is going to have surgery on his knee to trim his meniscus, according to Adam Schefter. Bowers was hurt during training camp, but didn’t get the injury diagnosed until last week. The late identification of the injury will force Bowers to miss the start of the season.
The initial report is for Bowers to miss a “game or two”. Ideally for the Raiders their tight end will be back for the second game of the season. Otherwise, the lack of talent across the skill positions will be exposed.
Next In Line
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The Raiders have a good backup tight end. Michael Mayer was a second-round pick in 2023, but has been living in Bowers’ shadow after the Raiders spent a first-round pick on him in 2024.
But Mayer has never put together a productive season as a receiver. Across his three years in the NFL he has 788 yards and three touchdowns. When Bowers is available, Mayer will function as the second tight end in two tight end sets. But now, he’ll likely be on the field for as many snaps as he can handle.
The only other tight end on the roster is Ian Thomas, who has never had 400 receiving yards in a season. Thomas will certainly play on Sunday, but he likely won’t be a big part of the passing game.
Wide Receiver Help
Bowers is listed as a tight end, but the Raiders are going to use him more like a traditional wide receiver. He rarely lined up with his hand in the dirt on the end of the line of scrimmage in his brief preseason appearances.
Losing Bowers will lead to more playing time and targets for the Raiders’ receivers. But that is one of the worst position groups on the team.
Tre Tucker has been locked in as the top wideout since training camp started. Jalen Nailor was an offseason addition who is looking to prove he can be more than a depth piece to a passing game.
After those two, Jack Bech enters his second season after a disappointing rookie year. Bech, despite being drafted in the second round, only had 224 yards last year. Rookie Malik Benson is the fourth wideout and had some training camp hype, but has a lot to prove before he is counted on as a regular target.
Without Bowers a group of wide receivers with no high-end production will need to step up or the offense will falter.
The Run Game
Without Bowers, the Raiders’ most talented skill position is the running back room. Ashton Jeanty, who returned to practice on Wednesday, could be poised for a massive season. Rookie Mike Washington popped in the preseason and could carve out a role in the offense.
If the Raiders are simply trying to find their most talented skill position players regardless of position, Jeanty and Washington are at the top of the list.
The best way to make Bowers’ absence less painful is to run the ball successfully. Las Vegas averaged the worst yards per carry in the NFL last season, so that is a tall task for 2026.
But outside of simply running more effectively, Kubiak could use both of his backs more in the passing game than expected.
Ultimately, not having Bowers is a massive blow to the Raiders’ offensive production. He is the best player on the team. His output can’t be replaced by anyone else on the roster. Getting him back as soon as possible is paramount for Las Vegas.
