The Raiders have managed a 2-0 start without Brock Bowers, but that run may soon get a major boost.
Heading into Week 3 against the New Orleans Saints, the outlook on the star tight end is trending in the right direction. According to ESPN’s Dan Graziano, Bowers is “more likely” than not to play this weekend.
“Being 2-0, of course, gives the Raiders a cushion and justifies waiting to be sure on Bowers if there's anything at all that bothers him in practice this week,” Graziano writes. “But my sense is that it's more likely he plays this week than not.”
That still stops short of a confirmation, but it’s clearly encouraging news for Las Vegas. If Bowers does suit up, the Raiders would be getting back their top offensive playmaker just in time for a matchup that could demand plenty of points.
Las Vegas has already found ways to win through two weeks. The defense has done its part, while Ashton Jeanty and Tre Tucker have helped carry the offense. But Bowers’ return would change the shape of the passing game in a hurry.
The Raiders would welcome that kind of lift against a Saints team that has one of the most potent passing offenses in the NFL. With a chance to move to 3-0, getting Bowers back would give the offense the spark it needs.
For now, nothing is locked in. A setback or lingering concern could still push things back another week. But as it stands, the signs point toward Bowers being on the field Sunday.
In Other News...
Saints Fans Will Notice One Big Superdome Change At The Home Opener
The Caesars Superdome is rolling out a fresh gameday experience for the Saints home opener, and the changes will be obvious long before kickoff. To mark 60 seasons of Saints football, the building is debuting new food and drink options aimed at giving fans more variety as they settle into another home schedule in New Orleans.
Along with a $6 value menu, the lineup includes Louisiana-inspired dishes such as a pork alligator burger and Tabasco wings, plus specialty cocktails throughout the stadium. Suite fans will also have a $60 commemorative dessert on the menu, part of a broader push from the culinary team to make the Superdome feel a little more celebratory as the season gets underway. [Read more 🡒]
Saints Fans Can Already See Kellen Moores Travis Etienne Problem
Travis Etiennes early role has already become a talking point for Saints fans watching Kellen Moore sort out the offense. Through the first two games, Etienne has been kept under 10 rushing attempts in each one, a usage pattern that stands out for a back who is supposed to be one of the highest-paid at his position. Instead of functioning like the lead runner many expected, he has been deployed more as a piece in the passing game while Alvin Kamara has gotten the heavier share of work on the ground.
For New Orleans, the concern is less about one quiet stretch than what it might signal about Moores priorities with the backfield. If Etienne is going to justify his contract and become the centerpiece many assumed he would be, the Saints need to see more than scattered touches and receiving snaps. For now, the mismatch between pay and role is hard to ignore, and it leaves a real question hanging over how Moore plans to balance the two backs going forward. [Read more 🡒]
Saints Just Created A Huge NFC South Opportunity
The NFC South suddenly looks a lot more open after a weekend that reshuffled the division race in a hurry. Tampa Bay dropped a tight one to Cleveland, Carolina handled Atlanta convincingly, and the Falcons were left dealing with another rough outing under center. Then New Orleans added its own statement by upsetting Baltimore, the kind of result that can change the tone around a team and a division at the same time.
For the Saints, the timing matters just as much as the win itself. With the standings tightening and upcoming games still to be played, New Orleans now has a real chance to turn one strong result into something more meaningful if it can keep pace while the rest of the division sorts itself out. The opportunity is there, but in a race this volatile, the next few weeks will decide whether this becomes a true opening or just a brief flicker. [Read more 🡒]