Brock Bowers is headed toward a short absence to open the 2026 NFL season after undergoing a meniscus trim on Tuesday, according to a report from Adam Schefter and Ian Rapoport.
The NFL insiders reported Wednesday, citing sources, that the Raiders tight end had the procedure done in Dallas with Dr. Daniel Cooper and is expected to miss “a game or two.” Bowers had been bothered “a little in camp,” and the injury was diagnosed last week before the surgery, per Schefter’s post.
That timeline puts Bowers in jeopardy for Week 1, when Las Vegas hosts the Miami Dolphins on Sunday. The Raiders then go on the road in Week 2 to face the Los Angeles Chargers. If the absence does stretch to two games, a possible return would come Sept. 27 against the New Orleans Saints.
Bowers is entering his third NFL season after the Raiders made him the No. 13 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. His first two years in the league have already shown both the ceiling and the disruption he can bring to an offense.
As a rookie, Bowers earned first-team All-Pro honors after piling up 112 catches for 1,194 yards and five touchdowns. In 2025, injuries limited him to 12 games and eight starts. His production dipped to 64 receptions for 680 yards, though he finished with seven touchdowns, one more than he had in his debut season.
Raiders fans and fantasy managers will be tracking every update closely as the season gets underway.
In Other News...
Falcons Injury Report Puts Several Week 1 Roles In Doubt
Michael Penix Jr. was a full participant in practice this week even as a knee injury has already ruled him out for the Falcons Week 1 matchup with the Pittsburgh Steelers. The encouraging sign for Atlanta is that no one missed practice entirely, but the injury report still gave the coaching staff plenty to sort through as the opener approaches.
Billy Bowman Jr. was limited by an Achilles injury but remains hopeful he can suit up, while Brandon Dorlus, ZaDarius Smith, Zachariah Branch and Kyle Hinton were also on the report in limited fashion for various reasons. For a team trying to get its first-game rotations settled, that leaves a few roles in the secondary and elsewhere hanging in the balance right up to kickoff. [Read more 🡒]
Falcons Suddenly Have A Tua Concern They Cant Ignore
Tua Tagovailoas first days as the Falcons newly named starter already have a little extra weight to them, and Thursdays practice session added an unexpected layer. Tagovailoa appeared to be in discomfort and briefly went to the ground during the workout, a sight that immediately put the focus back on the back issue that bothered him during training camp. He did not throw again during the media portion of practice, and the team is set to update his status in its next injury report.
For Atlanta, the timing is the part that matters most. Tagovailoa was just handed the starting job, with Cooper Rush and rookie Jack Strand behind him on the depth chart, so any health concern around him lands differently than it would in midseason. The Falcons now have to sort out whether this was a brief practice scare or something more significant, and the answer should come soon enough when the injury report gives a clearer picture. [Read more 🡒]
Falcons Rookie Is Already Turning One Veteran Spot Into A Real Battle
The Falcons Week 1 depth chart brought one of camps clearest developments into focus, with rookie Kendal Daniels listed as the starting second linebacker next to Divine Deablo. Daniels had been gaining ground all summer, stacking up first-team reps in training camp and the preseason while making a strong enough impression to push veteran Christian Harris down the board. For a team that has talked all offseason about earning roles rather than inheriting them, it was a notable nod to how far the rookie has come in a short time.
Christian Harris still gives Atlanta a seasoned option at a spot that rarely stays settled for long, but the early indication is that the coaching staff is willing to trust what it sees over experience or previous investment. Daniels rise has turned what looked like a straightforward veteran role into a real competition, and the Falcons now have at least one lineup decision that says as much about the teams standards as it does about the player who forced the issue. [Read more 🡒]