Report: Bowers (knee) to miss ‘a game or two’

Mayer’s 10 targets were just one fewer than what Brock Bowers (11) saw on the day. Mayer made the most of his opportunities, racking up 82 yards—the second most in his career and saw four of his receptions come on the Raiders’ first four drives of the game. On the Raiders’ fourth drive, Mayer hauled in passes of two, seven, and 17 yards, with his longest catch setting up a 48-yard field goal just before halftime to put them up 13-10. We shouldn’t expect this level of production from Mayer on a weekly basis, but the Raiders’ underwhelming WR corps could pave the way for more opportunities for Mayer going forward after this solid outing. There’s a lot to like here, but Mayer will be a boom-or-bust TE2 next week against the Patriots until we see reliable target totals on a more consistent basis, while he shares the field with Brock Bowers.

Bowers’ 11 targets again led the Raiders on Sunday. He’s now racked up 24 targets over the last two weeks and converted those opportunities into 16 receptions for 202 yards and two touchdowns. Bowers came up big for the Raiders late in the fourth quarter in Sunday’s game against the Chiefs. With the Raiders trailing 30-19 and less than two minutes to go in the game, Kirk Cousins avoided a sack and rolled right in the pocket to find Bowers in the end zone for a 20-yard touchdown, cutting the Chiefs’ lead to 30-25 before Cody White converted a two-point conversion try on the following play. To the surprise of nobody, Bowers has been the top target in head coach Klint Kubiak’s offense. He’ll look to build on his hot start in Week 5 when the Raiders take on the Patriots. It should go without saying that Bowers is a must-play.

Despite being questionable with a knee injury and an illness that was announced early Sunday, Bowers is active in what’s a surprisingly pivotal Week 4 matchup between undefeated AFC West teams. Bowers caught 10 passes for 116 yards and a touchdown on 14 targets last week and will be a high-end TE1 this week. While Bowers is active, the Raiders did declare QB Aidan O’Connell, CB Darrell Luter Jr., S Tristin McCollum, OL Jackson Powers-Johnson, and DT Jonah Laulu inactive for Week 4.

Today’s report is in relation to Bowers’ illness, not his knee. Earlier this morning, the Raiders announced that Bowers has come down with an illness, but the illness will not alter his game status. Bowers’ knee was a non-issue last week, and we expect it to be a non-issue again this week. He is good to go for the Raiders’ Week 4 game against the Chiefs. Treat him like an elite TE1, as usual.

Bowers was not on the injury report Wednesday and Thursday. The Raiders limited him on Friday. Last week, he logged two limited sessions before sitting out on Friday. The improvement is encouraging, but it is worth mentioning that the team is still managing his reps during each week’s final practice. He should be treated as an elite TE1, as usual.

Mayer scored with just under six minutes left in the first half. Coach Klint Kubiak sent Brock Bowers in motion, back and forth across the formation, behind the line of scrimmage, before Kirk Cousins executed the play-action fake. Mayer ran an out route from the slot and shook Saints defender Justin Reid on the cut before quickly hauling in the pass. Mayer’s other two catches both went for double-digit yardage gains. He will be a viable TE2 moving forward, with defenses focused on stopping Bowers.

Bowers showed no ill effects from his Week 1 meniscus trim, lining up all over the formation and dominating Saints defenders from start to finish. Bowers thrived on out routes and crossers, but also played well as a toe-tapping vertical weapon on the sideline. He muscled through contact on a catch-and-run on the Raiders’ third drive and later made a 20-yard catch, tumbling backward as he secured it on the Raiders’ sixth drive. He scored on an out route from the slot on the Raiders’ ninth drive, bringing the game up to six total tight end touchdowns, tying the NFL’s record. Bowers can be treated as the overall TE1 against the Chiefs next week.

Bowers makes his debut in coach Klint Kubiak’s offense against the Saints today. The two-time Pro Bowl player should be started as a high-end TE1, although it might take a game or two for Bowers to get back into form. That said, it might not. He is an exceptionally talented player who should immediately function as his team’s top target earner.

Bowers will still need to test out his knee during pre-game warmups, but all signs point to him making his 2026 debut later today. The team heavily limited his workload during practice this week and could do so in his first game back from the late offseason meniscus trim. Still, if Bowers is active, fantasy managers have to get him in their lineups.

Bowers did not practice today, but head coach Klint Kubiak said that was part of the team’s plan for managing his injury. Bowers had been limited each of the past two days. It seems plausible given how often he’s being managed at practice that he’d be on a snap count if active, but that’s just our speculation. Kubiak added that the team will not be working Bowers out pre-game like they did ahead of Week 2. Bowers-reliant managers are used to having contingency plans at this point and that will remain the case for Week 3.