The Raiders are set to open the season without one of their biggest offensive weapons. Brock Bowers is expected to miss one to two games after having a meniscus trim in Dallas on Tuesday, according to ESPN, leaving Las Vegas without its Pro Bowl tight end for at least Sunday’s matchup with the Miami Dolphins.
The injury reportedly happened during training camp, and the surgery followed shortly after. That puts Bowers in jeopardy for another marquee game on the schedule as well: the Raiders’ Week 2 meeting with the Los Angeles Chargers on “Sunday Night Football.” If his recovery stays on that timeline, his return could come in Week 3 against the Saints in New Orleans.
For the Raiders, losing Bowers is no small hit. He has been a Pro Bowler in each of his first two NFL seasons and was named All-Pro as a rookie after piling up 112 catches for 1,194 yards and five touchdowns. In the process, he passed Hall of Famer Mike Ditka’s long-standing rookie tight end receiving yards mark from 1961 and also topped Puka Nacua’s one-year-old record for receptions in a season by a rookie.
Even with five games missed last season, Bowers still found the end zone seven times and earned another Pro Bowl nod.
With Bowers sidelined, Michael Mayer is expected to step into the starting role for now. The 2023 second-round pick has already logged plenty of NFL snaps for Las Vegas, making 32 starts overall, including 12 in 2025. Across 38 career games, Mayer has 83 receptions for 788 yards and three touchdowns.
Sunday’s opener also gives the Raiders a look at a Dolphins roster that has been described as arguably the NFL’s least proven. Miami’s reworked secondary features four free agent additions and three rookies, and Chris Johnson, a 2026 first-round pick, is set to make his first NFL start at nickelback.
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Dolphins Are Putting A Lot On Young Starters Right Away
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For a roster trying to stay competitive while also building for the future, that kind of early trust is notable. It means the Dolphins are not just easing their rookie class into the picture, they are putting a lot on them right away and betting those young starters can handle the pressure that comes with opening week roles. [Read more 🡒]