Brock Bowers made an immediate impact as a rookie in 2024, setting an NFL rookie record with 112 receptions in a single season. However, following a knee injury, his sophomore campaign has gotten off to a rough start.
Here’s the latest on his status for the Raiders’ Week 7 game against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Brock Bowers Injury Update
Bowers has not played in the last two games for the Raiders due to his injury. In four games this season, he has 19 receptions for 225 yards, on 27 targets, averaging 11.8 yards per reception.
Fortunately for the Raiders, Bowers practiced on Friday in preparation for the big game against the reigning AFC champions.
Raiders TE Brock Bowers returns to practice.
🎥: By @Sean_Zittel, Vegas Sports Today pic.twitter.com/aAwo8dmOcL
— Vegas Sports Today (@VegasSportsTD) October 17, 2025
“There’s a big bye coming up,” said Raiders head coach Pete Carroll when asked about Bowers’ status on October 13. “I’m optimistic always, but that doesn’t mean we’re getting him back… it might be best to guarantee that he’s full speed and back.”
With a bye week upcoming in Week 8, holding Bowers out for another game would have made sense.
After the practice on Friday, Carroll was not committed to Bowers playing on Sunday. “Jakobi got more work than Brock did. He bounced back pretty well,” the Raiders HC said per Ryan McFadden on X. “He added that Bowers is close but wouldn’t say whether both players would play or not on Sunday.”
He was then listed as doubtful for the Week 7 matchup against the Chiefs.
Bowers ranks fifth based on PFSN’s Tight End Impact metric with an impact score of 82.1. In his absence, Michael Mayer took up a larger role in the Las Vegas offense, serving as a security blanket for quarterback Geno Smith. The former second-round pick out of Notre Dame has also dealt with injuries this season, missing two games because of a concussion.
However, he returned in Week 6, playing 92% of the snaps and hauling in five of seven targets for 50 yards and a touchdown. Mayer ranks as the No. 15 tight end based on PFSN’s TE Impact metric.
Bowers’ Fantasy Outlook
Here’s what PFSN’s Kyle Soppe wrote about Bowers’ fantasy outlook before he practiced on Friday:
The knee injury continues to nag Brock Bowers, and the Raiders are staying the course by not forcing a piece they view as part of their future into their lineup.
That’s probably the right move for the franchise, but it’s getting difficult for fantasy managers to swallow. With a Week 8 bye for a team with no real postseason aspirations, it seems very possible that the consensus TE1 from this summer misses another game this week.
I wish I could give you some savvy advice to get you out of this situation, but there’s only so much you can do. At this point, you’re pot-committed and can’t sell him for pennies on the dollar.
Bowers was targeted on 25% of his routes before the injury this season and 25.9% as a rookie. You’re not crazy to want to chase the ceiling … we just need him on the field.
Bowers’ lingering knee injury has created significant uncertainty for both the Raiders and fantasy football managers who invested heavily in the rookie tight end. While the team appears committed to prioritizing his long-term health over immediate returns, fantasy owners face a difficult situation with limited options.
