Las Vegas is set to welcome Miami to Allegiant Stadium on Sunday as it opens a transitional 2026 campaign, but it will do so without the services of one of its top players.
Third-year tight end Brock Bowers appeared in just a dozen games last season after dealing with knee injuries for much of the year, and he’s set to miss more time as Kirk Cousins takes command of the Raiders’ offense this fall.
According to reporting from ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Bowers underwent a meniscus trim on Tuesday, which sidelines him for Week 1 but does give the team hope that the former Georgia Bulldog can suit up in Week 2.
As a rookie in 2024, Bowers starred, racking up 1,194 receiving yards and 5 touchdowns on 112 catches, and he was on a similar track in 2025 with 680 yards and 7 touchdowns before being placed on the Injured Reserve with 5 games remaining in the season.
The Raiders will open their season without Bowers when the Dolphins visit at 4:25 p.m. ET, with the game being broadcast by CBS.
If Bowers is to return for Week 2, it would be for an important divisional clash against the Chargers in Los Angeles.
Parker is currently the sports editor for Gulf Coast Media in Foley, Alabama. He's a graduate from Mizzou who has experience covering the Tiger football and basketball beats for SB Nation, and he's worked for a variety of sports news outlets in the past.
