Las Vegas Raiders star tight end Brock Bowers is listed as questionable for Sunday’s matchup against the New Orleans Saints after missing the first two weeks of the regular season due to a knee injury.
The Las Vegas Raiders head into their Week 3 game against the New Orleans Saints with their top offensive weapon’s availability still undetermined. Head coach Klint Kubiak announced Friday that Brock Bowers is questionable to suit up, following a week where the tight end participated in practice on a limited basis on Wednesday and Thursday before sitting out Friday.
According to Sam Warren of The Athletic, Bowers’ absence from Friday’s session was part of the plan all along. Kubiak expressed optimism regarding his tight end’s chances of playing, telling reporters, I’m optimistic,
and confirming that the team does not plan to put Bowers through a pregame workout to test his knee like they did prior to the Week 2 win over the Los Angeles Chargers.
Knee Surgery Timeline and Outside Criticism
Bowers underwent a surgical procedure on September 8 to clean up and trim his meniscus. A return to game action in less than three weeks has drawn sharp outside criticism regarding long-term joint health.
“I’ve had my meniscus scoped 4 times. Was rushed back each time and tore it over and over again to the point I didn’t have a meniscus to scope. Now it’s bone on bone with a fracture that grows each year and is 10/10 pain to twist or turn and run. They’re gonna ruin this man’s career with injuries at this rate!”
Su’a Cravens, former NFL safety
Despite those concerns, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported earlier in the week that Bowers was expected to play, and Kubiak indicated that the Friday missed practice was managed carefully as part of the team’s weekly rehabilitation strategy.
Offensive Production Without the Star Tight End
The Raiders have managed an improbable 2-0 start without their primary pass-catcher, putting up 26.5 points per game to tie for 10th-best in the NFL. Offensive coordinator Andrew Janocko pointed to the roster’s versatility in filling the void left by the injured tight end.
Janocko added that the team has been able to play different guys at different positions, maximizing various skill sets to execute the offensive game plan. In the season-opening win over the Miami Dolphins, running backs Ashton Jeanty and Mike Washington Jr. carried the load with 188 yards from scrimmage. Last week against the Chargers, when Los Angeles contained the ground game, quarterback Kirk Cousins turned to his wide receivers, completing 11 of 16 passes for 204 yards, three touchdowns, and an interception.
Betting Outlook and Defensive Matchup
Market analysts view the tight end as an instant focal point if he takes the field on Sunday. The Sharp Football Analysis team tabbed Bowers as their anytime touchdown pick, noting that Kubiak has a history of feeding his top passing-game targets heavily and pointing out that the Saints utilize a high single-high coverage rate that Bowers has historically exploited with a 26% target rate per route run, according to USA Today. DraftKings Sportsbook lists Bowers with +225 odds to score an anytime touchdown against New Orleans.
If Bowers is cleared to play, Michael Mayer, Tre Tucker, Jack Bech, and Jalen Nailor will see their target shares adjusted alongside the returning Pro Bowler. If he is sidelined for another week, Mayer will remain the starting tight end.
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