The Raiders are heading into 2026 with a familiar kind of problem: a big opening, and a bigger absence. Brock Bowers is out and could miss time to start the year, which takes a lot of the shine off Las Vegas’ season opener against the Miami Dolphins. It also thrusts Michael Mayer into a role that has been waiting for him.
Mayer was already lined up for a meaningful piece of the offense before the injury news. That’s part of the twist here.
He entered the league with the idea that he could be a No. 1 tight end, but when the Raiders picked Bowers in 2024, Mayer shifted into more of a complementary spot. Now the runway clears again, at least for a while.
And this is not a small ask. Mayer has the kind of skill set that can matter in a real way: he runs clean routes, has a sneaky ability to pick up yards after the catch, hardly drops anything, and can move the chains on third down. The Raiders are counting on that showing up quickly.
He already showed flashes as a rookie, and the promise was obvious as the season wore on. His game has also hinted at what the Raiders can do with him when they lean into tight end usage. On a touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals, Mayer lined up inline while Tre Tucker’s motion helped create a bunch look, and the design left him open for an easy score.
That kind of usage fits what the coaching staff seems to want. Offensive coordinator Andrew Janocko made clear that Mayer has a strong place in the plan.
"Mike [Mayer] does a lot. Mike does a lot of things well, and we try to emphasize what he does well in the run game, what he does well in the pass game," Janocko told reporters.
"His route running is always improving, his blocking is always an improvement, hand placement, all the stuff, pad level. Just the way he finishes each play with the ball in his hand.
I think that's something that gives us an advantage."
With Bowers sidelined, Mayer should slide naturally into the top tight end role and give Kubiak a chance to lean back into the bootlegs and play-action looks that come with that kind of setup. During the preseason, Mayer spent most of his snaps as the inline tight end, so the framework is already there. The question now is whether Kubiak expands his role even further, including more work from the slot.
There’s also the business side of this. Mayer is in a contract year, which makes this stretch about more than just filling in for an injured teammate. He’s entering the final year of his rookie deal, and if the Raiders don’t extend him, he’ll hit unrestricted free agency in the spring of 2027.
That gives this opportunity some real weight. If Mayer performs well, Las Vegas could try to keep him around for years.
If he plays at a level that draws more attention, he could put himself in position to cash in somewhere else. Either way, the chance in front of him is about a lot more than one early-season injury.
In Other News...
Derek Carr May Have Clarified The Raiders QB Plan
Derek Carrs latest podcast conversation offered a useful peek at how the Raiders are thinking about offense this season. Comparing Klint Kubiaks approach with Jon Grudens, Carr pointed to a system that asks more of the quarterback inside a defined structure and gives less freedom at the line of scrimmage, which helps explain why the team is leaning into a more controlled setup as it builds around a new starter.
Kirk Cousins has already been named the Raiders quarterback for the upcoming season, and the plan for rookie Fernando Mendoza looks just as deliberate. He is expected to develop gradually rather than be thrown into heavy play-calling duties early, though Brock Bowers absence for at least one game could alter the timing of any move to get Mendoza more involved. For a team trying to settle its offense, the next few weeks should tell plenty about how cautious that transition really is. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Depth Chart Just Exposed How Fast Spytek's Rebuild Is Moving
John Spytek was brought in two offseasons ago to reshape the Raiders roster, and the latest depth chart suggests the plan is moving faster than many expected. The team opens a new season with a more balanced mix of seasoned veterans and young additions than it had when the overhaul began, a sign that the front office has been able to stock the cupboard while still keeping enough stability in place for head coach Klint Kubiak.
One of the clearest indicators is rookie safety Treydan Stukes, who has already earned a starting job for the first game. For a team still in the middle of a rebuild, that kind of early trust matters: it shows the Raiders are not just collecting prospects, they are finding players ready to contribute right away. The bigger question is how quickly that youth movement keeps pushing into key roles as the season unfolds. [Read more 🡒]
Broncos May Have A D-Line Breakout Fans Need To Watch
Treydan Stukes has already given the Raiders a notable development on the defensive side, earning a starting spot on the Week 1 depth chart after impressing the coaching staff with his confidence, communication and versatility. For a team looking to settle its back end early, that kind of trust from the defensive coordinator matters, especially with a rookie-second-round safety being asked to handle more than one job right away.
The bigger AFC West picture, though, is just as interesting, because the Broncos may have a defensive line piece on the rise in Eyioma Uwazurike. Entering his fourth NFL season, he is coming off career bests in tackles and sacks and has carried that momentum into a strong offseason and camp, which gives Denver another front-line option to watch when the Raiders start division play. Add in Patrick Mahomes working toward a Week 1 return for Kansas City, and this division is already starting to take on the look of a race shaped by health, growth and a few young players trying to force their way into bigger roles. [Read more 🡒]