Las Vegas Raiders Tight End Brock Bowers Out For Week 5
Sometimes in the NFL, being tough means knowing when to sit down. Las Vegas Raiders Tight End Brock Bowers learned that lesson the hard way Sunday, as Las Vegas officially ruled him inactive for their matchup against the Indianapolis Colts. For a player who’s built his reputation on being virtually unstoppable, this decision had to sting worse than that knee he’s been nursing.
The Injury That Won’t Quit
Raiders TE Brock Bowers officially is inactive today due to the PCL injury and bone bruise on his knee. The Raiders will consider him week to week and will re-evaluate him this week to determine whether he can play next Sunday vs. the Titans.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 5, 2025
Bowers has been playing through what can only be described as a perfect storm of pain since Week 1. The All-Pro tight end suffered both a PCL injury and a bone bruise in his left knee during the Raiders’ season-opening victory over New England. That is like trying to drive a car with two flat tires—you might make it down the block, but you’re not winning any races.
Here is where it gets frustrating for both Bowers and Raiders fans: doctors have been crystal clear about the prescription for recovery. Rest. That’s it. No fancy treatments, no miracle cures, just good old-fashioned time off the field. But Bowers, displaying the kind of stubborn determination that makes him great, has been about as receptive to sitting out as a cat is to taking a bath.
When Performance Tells the Story
The numbers don’t lie, and they’ve been telling a pretty sobering story about Bowers’ condition. After torching the Patriots for five catches and 103 yards in the opener, his production has fallen off a cliff steeper than Raiders fans’ expectations this season. In the three games since, he’s managed just 14 catches for 122 yards.
For context, this is a player who set rookie records and made opposing defensive coordinators lose sleep. Watching him struggle to separate from defenders while wearing a brace and sleeve on his left knee has been painful for everyone involved. Even Bowers himself admitted the frustration, saying he feels like he “can’t really do that to the best of my abilities right now.”
The Domino Effect
With Bowers sidelined and Michael Mayer dealing with concussion protocol, the Raiders’ tight end room suddenly looks thinner than a Las Vegas buffet at closing time. Ian Thomas, undrafted rookie Carter Runyon, and practice squad elevation Albert Okwuegbunam will have to step up against Indianapolis. It is not exactly the receiving corps that Offensive Coordinator Chip Kelly drew up in his playbook.
The timing couldn’t be worse for a Raiders offense that’s already been sputtering like an old engine on a cold morning. Without their most reliable target, quarterback Gardner Minshew will need to find new ways to move the chains against a Colts defense that’s been playing with renewed energy.
Looking Ahead: The Kansas City Test
Raiders fans are hoping this forced week of rest will be exactly what Bowers needs to get back to being the mismatch nightmare that made him a first-round pick. Coach Pete Carroll’s decision to sit Bowers, despite earlier optimism about his availability, shows the organization is finally taking a long-term view. Sometimes the hardest decision is admitting that your best player needs to watch from the sidelines to be truly effective down the road.
For now, Raiders Nation will have to hope that patience pays off and that their young star can return to full strength when they need him most.
