In Week 1, the Las Vegas Raiders and the New England Patriots were locked in a battle of two teams that added veteran head coaches in the offseason. Pete Carroll and Mike Vrabel are both trying to start off the mark the right way with their new squads.
In a one-score game heading into the fourth quarter, the Raiders were dealt a huge injury blow when star TE Brock Bowers left the field with an apparent injury.
What Happened to Brock Bowers?
Bowers suffered a knee injury and headed to the blue tent. He was bumped out of bounds in the lower leg and knee area and had to be checked out following the play.
Bowers finished the game with five catches for 103 yards on eight targets and was pivotal in their win.
Brock Bowers #raiders
Can see a slight valgus (inward) force on his right knee as the defender his him as his foot lands. Not significant enough for any major ligament damage but possibly mild MCL. Wonder about some compression/shearing on the meniscus as well pic.twitter.com/wfdfU7eBvc
— Tom Christ, PT, DPT, OCS, FAAOMPT (@FantasyInjuryT) September 7, 2025
After the game, Bowers spoke to the media and said that he was fine. After being checked out, he said there would be no issues moving forward.
Just talked to #Raiders TE Brock Bowers and he says he’s fine. Took a little hit on the knee, came out to get checked out. No concerns moving forward.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) September 7, 2025
The Raiders cannot afford to lose Bowers for significant periods of time. He is one of the most dynamic TEs in the NFL and has started his sophomore season exactly how his rookie season went.
Bowers is an elite weapon that any team wishes they had, but the Raiders hope the star tight end will avoid missing any future games.
Bowers’ Status for Week 2
The Raiders face the Chargers in Week 2 on Monday Night Football, with Brock Bowers listed as questionable and considered day-to-day as of Thursday, September 11.
He missed practice on both Thursday and Friday due to a knee issue, but with the extra day before kickoff, it would be surprising if he isn’t available.
Bowers practiced on Saturday, and Pete Carroll has confirmed that the star tight end is expected to play on Monday.
“Raiders HC Pete Carroll said TE Brock Bowers (knee) practiced today, “looked terrific”, and is expected to play Monday night versus the Chargers,” wrote NFL insider Adam Schefter.
Bowers downplayed the injury after Week 1 against the Patriots and is expected to play a key role against a Chargers defense riding high after an impressive win over the Chiefs.
Fantasy Impact of Bowers’ Injury
Easily the most high-profile injury of Week 1, this would be a nightmare scenario for fantasy managers if Bowers is forced to miss time. A consistent late second-round pick, Bowers had been on track to prove worthy of his draft stock.
PFSN’s Kyle Soppe highlighted that Bowers joined an elite group of pass catchers with 90+ receiving yards in at least seven of their first 18 games. His latest effort tied him with Justin Jefferson, Ja’Marr Chase, and Puka Nacua. Only former Giants receivers Victor Cruz and Odell Beckham Jr. reached that mark more often.
Bowers is simply irreplaceable. While TE2 Michael Mayer would see more snaps if Bowers is sidelined, he doesn’t carry fantasy relevance. The bigger impact would likely be a bump in opportunities for the Raiders’ wide receivers.
Tre Tucker or Dont’e Thornton Jr. could see a bump in volume, while Jakobi Meyers would clearly operate as the No. 1 option in this passing game, though he is already a weekly fantasy starter.
