Las Vegas Raiders Set To Get Key Offensive Piece Back
The Las Vegas Raiders offense is about to get a massive shot in the arm. After missing three straight games with a knee injury, star Tight End Brock Bowers is officially back—and he’s not wasting any time letting everyone know he’s ready to make an impact.
“The first part of the season was tough [and] not feeling 100%, but I’m closer now,” Bowers told reporters Wednesday. “I’m ready to roll.”
Bowers Returns At Full Speed
Head Coach Pete Carroll didn’t hold back his excitement about getting Bowers back on the field. The tight end was a full participant in Wednesday’s practice, looking sharp and explosive after using the bye week to recover.
“He’s back,” Carroll said. “Last week, he looked good every day, particularly good on the Monday practice. He kind of stole the show a little bit. So, we’re thrilled to have him back.”
Bowers has been dealing with a posterior cruciate ligament injury and bone bruise in his left knee since the Raiders’ Week 1 victory over the New England Patriots. He tried to tough it out through Weeks 2-4, but the coaching staff eventually shut him down to give him proper recovery time.
Playing through the injury clearly affected his performance. In those four games, Bowers managed just 19 receptions for 225 yards. Those are solid numbers for most tight ends, but well below what the All-Pro is capable of producing.
What Bowers’ Return Means For the Raiders
Let’s be real: the Raiders desperately need this. Their passing attack has been an absolute trainwreck since Bowers went down. Over the last six games, Las Vegas ranks dead last in passing yards (946), leads the league in interceptions thrown (nine), and sports a putrid 26.6 quarterback rating that ranks 31st in the NFL.
Remember Week 1 when everything clicked? Quarterback Geno Smith threw for 362 yards and a touchdown, with Bowers hauling in five catches for 103 yards. That feels like a lifetime ago.
“Brock is a big part of our offense, and we missed him out there for sure,” Smith said. “He looked fine to me. So, really happy to have him back.”
The Raiders tried to fill the void with Michael Mayer, Ian Thomas, and Albert Okwuegbunam. Mayer showed some promise with nine catches for 60 yards and a touchdown over the last two games, but none of them possess Bowers’ game-breaking ability.
Injury Updates Across the Roster
While Bowers’ return is the headline, the Raiders are monitoring a couple of other key players heading into Sunday’s matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Starting Defensive End Maxx Crosby (back) and Defensive Tackle Adam Butler (back) both sat out Wednesday’s practice after getting banged up in Week 7’s loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. However, Carroll expects both to suit up on Sunday.
“[Butler will] probably practice on Friday, but we think he’s fine. We’re just giving him the maximum amount of rest that we can,” Carroll said. “[Butler and Crosby] are on the same program; we expect them both to play.”
At 2-5, the Raiders can’t afford to lose any more games if they want to salvage this season. Getting Bowers back gives them a legitimate chance to jumpstart an offense that’s looked utterly lost in recent weeks. Sunday’s game against Jacksonville (4-3) will show us whether this team can turn things around—or if they’re destined for another disappointing finish.
