The Raiders may not have to wait long to get Brock Bowers back.
Las Vegas opened its 2026 season without one of its top offensive threats after Bowers underwent a knee procedure, but the latest update suggests the setback might be shorter than first expected. ESPN’s Dan Graziano reported that the injury is “not overly serious” and that a Week 2 return is still on the table. That lines up with ESPN’s Adam Schefter, who previously said the Raiders believe there is a realistic chance Bowers misses only one game.
Bowers had the knee injury surface during training camp, and it was diagnosed shortly before the regular season began. He had a meniscus trim in Dallas on Sept. 8 and was initially projected to miss one or two games.
He was ruled out for the opener, but Las Vegas has not placed him on injured reserve. Head coach Klint Kubiak called him day-to-day on Monday.
There was also a small encouraging sign after the Raiders’ Week 1 win over the Miami Dolphins. Bowers left the locker room without assistance, though he was wearing a sleeve on his left leg. That doesn’t guarantee anything about his status, but it adds another piece to the picture as the team heads into a short wait before facing the Chargers.
If Bowers is able to go, it would give Kirk Cousins another major option in the passing game. In Bowers’ absence, Las Vegas leaned on Michael Mayer and Ian Thomas at tight end, and Mayer also signed a new multi-year contract before the season.
Bowers has already shown what he means to this offense. Last season, he caught 64 passes for 680 yards and seven touchdowns in 12 games. His rookie year was even louder: 112 receptions, 1,194 yards, five touchdowns, and first-team All-Pro honors.
The Raiders travel to SoFi Stadium to play the Chargers on Sunday, and Bowers’ practice work this week should be the clearest indicator of whether he’s ready to make his 2026 debut. Las Vegas is still watching the knee closely before making that call.
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 🡒]