Brock Bowers’ knee situation is trending in the right direction, and that’s a welcome sign for a Raiders team trying to build momentum early.
The third-year tight end, who entered the season viewed as perhaps the best at his position in the league, had unexpected meniscus surgery before the year kicked off. Even with that setback, the early read from around the team was that the operation was minor and that Bowers could be back sooner rather than later. Now, a week after the procedure, he appears to be on pace for a quick return.
Las Vegas heads into its first divisional game of the season this week, a road trip to face the Los Angeles Chargers, who are trying to avoid an 0-2 start. If the Raiders can get a win there, it would send a clear message about where they stand in the AFC West. Getting Bowers back would only help that case.
ESPN’s Dan Graziano reported that the Raiders still believe the surgery was minor and that Bowers could even have a shot to play this week if his knee responds well.
"The team felt he could have played last week if necessary, and it's possible he returns this week," Graziano said. "But the organization is determined to be careful and not play him until they're 100 percent certain he's not being affected by the knee. I believe the latest you'll see Bowers is Week 4 against the Chiefs."
That cautious approach makes sense. Bowers missed five games last season because of knee injuries, and the Raiders know he’s too important to rush back before he’s fully right. Adam Schefter reported a similar timeline on Sunday morning before the Raiders season began.
After undergoing a meniscus trim Tuesday, the Raiders believe there’s a realistic chance Brock Bowers will miss only one game and return for Week 2 at the Los Angeles Chargers, per sources. Team will see how he’s feeling this week, but a potential return next week is within the… pic.twitter.com/YYADYQ7AN1
- Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 13, 2026
The injury apparently happened during training camp, though the team didn’t realize surgery would be needed until after camp ended. Bowers has dealt with knee problems before, including a PCL injury and a bone bruise that lingered through the 2025 season.
Head coach Klint Kubiak said Monday that Bowers is pushing to make it back for Week 2 against the Chargers.
"[Bowers is] working his tail off to get back out on the field," Kubiak said. "It's really important to him to play as soon as possible, and that doesn't surprise me about Brock."
For now, the expectation is that Bowers won’t be sidelined for long. Graziano said the tight end should be back within the next three weeks, which points to one of three possible return dates: 9/20 @ Chargers, 9/27 @ Saints, or 10/4 vs. Chiefs.
All three games fall on Sundays in the late window, so the Raiders don’t have to worry about a short week or extra rest complicating the timeline. Las Vegas will be on the road for the next two weeks before returning home to face Kansas City in Week 4.
In Other News...
Chargers Make Another Practice Squad Move That Ends A Brief Experiment
The Chargers shuffled their practice squad again, parting ways with cornerback Kaiir Elam and bringing in wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling. It is another small but telling move for a team that has not been shy about adjusting the bottom of the roster as it looks for the right mix of depth and fit.
Elams stay in Los Angeles was brief, even by practice-squad standards, after the former first-round pick landed there following the 2026 preseason. He had already bounced around multiple NFL stops before arriving with the Chargers, and this latest change leaves the club using that roster spot on a veteran receiver instead of continuing the experiment on the back end of the defense. [Read more 🡒]
Chargers Suddenly Need Help At Receiver Faster Than Expected
The Chargers are already looking for outside help at receiver, and the need has surfaced earlier than they likely wanted. With injuries thinning a group that includes Ladd McConkey, Derius Davis and KeAndre Lambert-Smith, Los Angeles is working out veteran Marquez Valdes-Scantling as it tries to stabilize a position that suddenly lacks reliable depth.
Valdes-Scantling brings a rsum that includes two Super Bowl titles and stops with multiple NFL teams, which makes him a familiar fit for a club searching for experience as much as pure production. He was released by the Cowboys after the 2026 preseason, and now the question is whether the Chargers see enough in his workout to bring in another receiver before the early-season injury situation gets any more complicated. [Read more 🡒]
Keenan Allens Latest Off-Field Trouble Could Decide How This Ends
Keenan Allens offseason arrest has now turned into a legal matter, with the former Chargers standout and current Colts wide receiver formally charged with operating a vehicle while intoxicated and operating a vehicle with an alcohol concentration of .15 or more. The case stems from the Aug. 30 incident in which police said Allen showed slurred speech and registered a high breath alcohol level, turning what began as a troubling off-field episode into something with real consequences still ahead.
Allen has already been on the field for Indianapolis in its season opener, but the bigger questions remain unresolved. His legal process is still moving forward, and the NFL has yet to weigh in with any discipline, leaving one of the leagues more familiar veteran receivers waiting to see how this ultimately gets sorted out. [Read more 🡒]