Brock Bowers Injury Creates Early Concern for Raiders
The Las Vegas Raiders have suffered a major blow just days before the start of the 2026 NFL season.
Star tight end Brock Bowers underwent a meniscus trim procedure on Tuesday in Dallas and is expected to miss at least the Raiders’ season opener against the Miami Dolphins. According to reports, Bowers is expected to miss one or two games as he recovers.
Bowers’ Knee Injury Comes at a Tough Time
Bowers reportedly suffered the injury during training camp, but the meniscus issue was not diagnosed until last week. He underwent the procedure Tuesday, leaving the Raiders without one of their most important offensive weapons to begin the season.
The timing is particularly frustrating for Las Vegas after Bowers had already dealt with significant knee problems during the 2025 season.
Last year, Bowers played through a PCL issue and bone bruise in his left knee before eventually missing time. He finished the season with 64 receptions for 680 yards and seven touchdowns in 12 games.
Now, the Raiders will once again have to find a way to produce without their star tight end.
Raiders Will Turn to Michael Mayer
With Bowers unavailable, Michael Mayer is expected to receive a much larger role in the offense, with Ian Thomas also likely to see additional snaps.
That could be a significant challenge for new head coach Klint Kubiak and quarterback Kirk Cousins.
Bowers has quickly established himself as one of the NFL’s premier young tight ends. As a rookie in 2024, he caught 112 passes for 1,194 yards and five touchdowns while earning first-team All-Pro honors.
The Raiders are scheduled to host Miami on Sunday before traveling to face the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 2.
For now, the expectation is that Bowers will miss only a game or two. But considering his importance to the Raiders and his history of knee problems, Las Vegas will undoubtedly be hoping this latest setback does not become something bigger.
The Raiders were hoping for a fresh start in 2026. Instead, they are already dealing with a major question surrounding their biggest offensive star.
