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Brock Bowers could return in Week 2 for the Raiders. The tight end had knee surgery last week, but head coach Klint Kubiak said they consider Bowers day to day.
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“We’re gonna be smart with him, but if he’s ready to play, he’s gonna play,” Kubiak told the media.
Bowers is the Raiders’ best offensive weapon. He will be the star of the passing game when he plays. If he is back in the lineup, it will have a major effect on who gets the ball for the Raiders.
Ashton Jeanty
The Raiders gave Ashton Jeanty 23 carries and targeted him six times in the passing game. Jeanty caught all six passes thrown his way for 45 yards. He only had one game last season with more than six catches.
Jeanty’s 23 carries were partially a result of the Raiders having a lead in the second half, as Las Vegas looked to run out the clock. But his 45 receiving yards led the team in Week 1, something that probably won’t happen if Bowers is healthy.
Michael Mayer
The Raiders handed Michael Mayer a new contract just before the start of the 2026 season. That payday gave Mayer one of the five biggest contracts of any tight end by average per year pay.
Mayer led the Raiders with seven targets on Sunday. He was tied for sixth among all tight ends in targets in Week 1. He caught six of those targets, but only turned them into 32 yards. With Bowers potentially coming back, Mayer could see his production cut.
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But Mayer likely won’t see his snap count drop significantly. Bowers is going to line up in the slot like a wide receiver on most plays. Mayer played 55 snaps against the Dolphins; 49 of those were as an inline tight end, according to Pro Football Focus.
Mayer probably won’t lead the team in targets if Bowers returns, but he will be on the field plenty.
Jack Bech
The player most likely to see a reduction of playing time is wide receiver Jack Bech. He played 27 offensive snaps in Week 1 and led the team with 12 snaps lined up in the slot. Those snaps will almost certainly go to Brock Bowers instead.
Bech hauled in a touchdown, as he finished with three catches for 23 yards. But with Tre Tucker as the Raiders’ top wideout and Jalen Nailor primarily lining up out wide, Bech is the most likely man to be left on the sideline for Bowers.
Brock Bowers’ Snap Count
If Bowers does return less than two weeks after having knee surgery, the Raiders could limit his playing time. Kubiak is doing that right now with Maxx Crosby, who sat out more than usual in the season opener.
It would be foolish for the Raiders to bring Bowers back before he is 100 percent, but if they do it will likely be for a smaller role.
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This story was originally published September 14, 2026 at 2:16 PM.