Las Vegas will have to open the season without its top tight end. Brock Bowers has been ruled out for Week 1 against the Miami Dolphins after undergoing a meniscus trim on his knee ahead of the Raiders’ opener.
The injury surfaced on Wednesday, and the door is still open for him to miss more than just the first game. ESPN’s Adam Schefter initially reported Bowers would be out “a week or two,” but the Raiders have not put a clear timeline on his return.
Klint Kubiak ruled Brock Bowers out. He said he was optimistic about his availability even after his surgery, but ultimately he won’t be able to go.
Speaking after practice, Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak said he was optimistic Brock Bowers would play Sunday against Miami despite his torn meniscus repair. Didn’t disclose a possible return-to-play timeline.
The Raiders are clearly being careful here, especially after a PCL injury already cost Bowers multiple games in the 2025 campaign. He played in just 12 games that season, hauling in 64 of 86 targets for 680 yards and seven touchdowns.
His absence has already made noise in the betting market. Las Vegas shifted from 3.5-point favorites to 3-point favorites at several sportsbooks, a notable drop at home.
With Bowers out, the attention turns to other pieces in the Raiders’ offense. Ashton Jeanty stands out as a receiving option for Sunday’s matchup, and he’s the prop I’d be looking at most closely in this AFC showdown.
Jeanty is off the injury report and expected to have a major role. He finished last season with more than 17.5 receiving yards in five of his final 10 games, and across the 2025 campaign he caught 55 passes for 346 yards. With the Raiders thin on the outside, there’s a path to a few designed pass plays for the former top-10 pick.
Michael Mayer should also be in the mix after receiving a contract extension on Saturday, and he and Jeanty figure to be two of the main targets in the offense on Sunday.
For now, the Raiders don’t appear to have a true No. 1 passing-game option while Bowers is sidelined, which is why Jeanty becomes such an interesting play.
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