LAS VEGAS — The Las Vegas Raiders will begin the 2026 season without arguably the most dangerous weapon in their offense. All-Pro tight end Brock Bowers underwent a procedure Tuesday to address a knee injury and is expected to miss the Raiders’ season opener against the Miami Dolphins, according to NFL insiders Ian Rapoport and Adam Schefter.
Bowers underwent a meniscus trim performed by renowned orthopedic surgeon Dr. Daniel Cooper after the knee injury was diagnosed last week. According to Rapoport, Bowers is expected to miss “a game or two.”
While the timetable suggests Bowers shouldn’t be facing an extended absence. The news is particularly concerning considering the knee problems that derailed much of his 2025 season. Which couldn’t of come at a worse time for a Raiders offense preparing to debut with Kirk Cousins at quarterback.
Another Knee Setback for Bowers
Bowers established himself as one of football’s premier tight ends almost immediately after entering the NFL, but his second season was defined in large part by his inability to stay healthy.
A knee injury suffered in Week 1 lingered throughout the 2025 campaign and limited Bowers to 12 games. Las Vegas eventually placed him on injured reserve before Week 17, officially ending his season.
Despite playing through the injury and missing significant time, Bowers still finished with 64 receptions for 680 yards and seven touchdowns. The Raiders entered this season hoping a healthy Bowers would return to being the centerpiece of their passing attack.
Instead, they’re once again dealing with questions surrounding his knee before the season has even started. The positive news is that a meniscus trim generally carries a shorter recovery timetable than a more extensive meniscus repair, and the early expectation that Bowers will miss only one or two games indicates Las Vegas could have him back relatively quickly. But given what happened last season. The Raiders aren’t likely to take unnecessary chances with one of their most important players.
Michael Mayer Gets His Opportunity
If there’s a silver lining for Las Vegas, it’s that the Raiders have another former second-round pick waiting behind Bowers. Michael Mayer moves into a much more significant role.
Entering his fourth NFL season, Mayer has accumulated 788 receiving yards and three touchdowns over 38 career games. Bowers’ arrival changed Mayer’s role within the offense. But the former Notre Dame standout now has an opportunity to remind everyone why Las Vegas invested a high draft pick in him.
Mayer isn’t Bowers. Few tight ends are. But he gives Cousins an experienced target who can work the middle of the field while also contributing as a blocker. Kubiak may also have to get creative with formations and personnel packages to compensate for Bowers’ absence.
Dana White Says UFC Won’t Re-Sign Michael ‘Venom’ Page Despite 5-1 Run
Welcome to Dice City Sports — where we provide premium, exclusive, up-to-date news and analysis surrounding the Las Vegas sports scene. Follow along on social media, and check back for new articles daily!
Robert LaMar is a Deputy Editor for Dice City Sports. You can follow him on X via @RobertLaMar26
