There’s still a real chance Brock Bowers is in the Raiders’ lineup against the Chargers on Sunday, but the picture around his availability remains muddy.
ESPN’s Dan Graziano reported this week that, just eight days after a meniscus trim, Bowers’ knee surgery was “not overly serious” and that he could have played last week if the Raiders had needed him. Even with that optimism, Bowers did not practice on Wednesday, and it still looks more likely than not that he sits until week 3.
The Raiders have not been eager to hand out injury details, and head coach Klint Kubiak has been especially hard to pin down when it comes to Bowers. That silence has led former Raiders wide receiver Ryan Hoag to wonder whether there’s some gamesmanship behind the way the team is handling the situation.
“What you need to understand and what fans at home need to understand is that when Brock needs to be prepared for, that changes your entire week of preparation. Because every single practice somebody is wearing that jersey, that 89 jersey, and you’re identifying where he is on the field every single snap,” Hoag said on the Silver & Black Sports Network podcast on Thursday.
“Every single time, scout players like me, practice squad guys are wearing 89. We’re proud to wear it because we know, ‘Hey, I’m going to eat this practice.
They’re throwing me every ball even if I’m double covered.’ The reality is, you’re predicating your whole offense around one guy like the Raiders do.
I would argue that it’s almost worth eating the IR position…”
“I would argue, if I was Klint Kubiak and I knew Brock is going to be out for weeks, and again, I don’t know that, but let’s say worst case scenario, he is out for weeks. I would actually not use the spot for an IR position knowing that it is such an impactful position and person that you’re going to have to game plan for because why wouldn’t you put him on IR if he’s not expecting to play in the next couple of weeks.
That is my thought process with that. I don’t think he plays.
I don’t think it makes sense for him to play.
Hoag’s point is simple: even the possibility of Bowers forces opponents to spend time and attention on him all week. If the Raiders are keeping his status vague, that uncertainty alone can shape a game plan.
For now, Michael Mayer appears set for another week as the Raiders’ TE1. But if Bowers does suit up, the message is clear: “get your popcorn ready.” Kubiak’s offense, at least from the outside, looks built around getting the ball to his All-Pro tight end.
In Other News...
Raiders Legend Fred Biletnikoff Just Gave Fans A Powerful Reminder
Fred Biletnikoff has spent decades reminding Raiders fans that the franchises most enduring figures often make their biggest impact off the field. The Hall of Fame receivers Biletnikoff Foundation is already setting up its 26th Celebrity Crab Fest for Oct. 16, 2026, and for the first time the event will be held at Allegiant Stadium, a fitting stage for a cause that has long been tied to the Las Vegas community.
The dinner and fundraiser will benefit Traceys Place of Hope at the Healing Center at St. Judes Ranch for Children in Nevada, with support aimed at fighting adolescent domestic violence, substance abuse and human trafficking. It also arrives as Mark Davis has pledged a major donation toward Nevadas first stand-alone childrens hospital, another reminder that in Las Vegas, the Raiders influence keeps stretching well beyond the scoreboard. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders May Have Found A Hidden Edge Theyll Need To Keep Winning
The Raiders opened the season with the kind of balanced effort coaches love to point to later, beating the Dolphins in Week 1 by getting something from every phase of the game. Offense did its part, the defense held up, and special teams quietly helped tilt the field in Las Vegas favor, with running back Dylan Laube giving the offense shorter fields to work with on kickoff returns.
For a team trying to string wins together, that hidden edge matters. Special teams coach Joe DeCamillis said the unit showed progress, but also left room for improvement, which is usually the encouraging part for a club that just found a way to win early. If the Raiders can keep turning those return chances into field position advantages, it could become one of the more useful edges on the roster. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Fans Will All Have The Same Question About This Confession
Orville Pecks new album, Mule, comes with plenty of personal material, but one line in particular will likely catch Raiders fans by surprise. The masked country singers fourth studio release includes a lyric about a personal encounter with an unnamed Las Vegas Raiders player, a detail Peck said was cleared with the player before the song came out.
Peck said the player wanted to stay anonymous, which only adds to the intrigue for a fan base that will immediately start wondering who it was. The album also leans into bigger themes of addiction, recovery and lived experience, but this Raiders reference gives the project a very specific local tie that is hard to ignore. [Read more 🡒]