Brock Bowers is still the name the New Orleans Saints have to circle for Week 3, even if his game status remains unsettled.
The Las Vegas Raiders tight end is listed as questionable for Sunday while working back from a meniscus trim. He was limited in practice on Wednesday and Thursday, then did not practice Friday. Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak said that was always the plan, though, which helps calm the concern that Friday’s DNP signaled a setback.
That still leaves Bowers very much in the spotlight. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported earlier this week that Bowers had a good chance to play, and if he does suit up, he’ll be the most dangerous pass catcher the Saints have seen at tight end so far. He’s also been on a historic run to start his career, ranking first in receptions with 176 and third in receiving yards with 1,874 among tight ends through their first 29 games.
For New Orleans, the uncertainty matters because Bowers is the engine of the Raiders’ passing game. If he’s active, the Saints will have to account for him on every snap.
The good news for New Orleans is that Brandon Staley’s defense has handled tight ends well through two games. The Saints have already faced two quality players at the position, and neither one found the end zone or cleared 50 receiving yards. Both were targeted around 21% of the time, so the ball did go their way - the defense just kept them in check.
That effort hasn’t fallen on the scheme alone. Pete Werner, Kaden Elliss, and Jonas Sanker have all played a part in limiting opposing offenses, and that group will have another demanding assignment if Bowers is on the field. It would be the third straight All-Pro tight end the Saints have had to deal with.
And Bowers isn’t the kind of tight end you can box into one spot anyway. Staley made that clear when he spoke to the media.
"Brock is such a weapon," Staley said to the media. "He can line up anywhere.
He can run the entire route tree as an outside receiver, as an inside receiver, or in a tight end position, and he could even line up in the backfield. He's a very complete player, he's very dangerous after the catch, and he's very good with the ball in his hands, which isn't typical for a tight end."
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Saints Passing Attack Could Put Raiders To The Test Early
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Las Vegas also has to sort through an injury hit in the back end, with starting safety Treydan Stukes out because of a concussion. That matters against a Saints team that has already shown a knack for rallying late in its first two games, which can make every possession feel heavier and every coverage mistake more costly. [Read more 🡒]