tight end Brock Bowers is expected to play on Sunday against the. Bowers is listed as questionable with a knee injury after missing the first two games of the season. He underwent a meniscus trim on September 8 and has not appeared in a regular-season snap in 2026. The Las Vegas Raiders (2-0) visit the New Orleans Saints (1-1) at 4:25 PM ET at the Caesars Superdome.
The Raiders did not elevate a tight end for game day, a step the club took in each of the first two weeks. Head coach Klint Kubiak had already said he was optimistic about Brock Bowers’ return.
Brock Bowers practiced on a limited basis on Wednesday and Thursday. He did not practice on Friday. Klint Kubiak said the absence was planned.
“I’m optimistic,” Klint Kubiak said of Brock Bowers’ chances of playing.
Klint Kubiak also indicated the would not use a pregame workout to settle the question, unlike last week, when Brock Bowers warmed up and was still held out against the Los Angeles Chargers. The combination of limited midweek work, a scheduled rest day, and no practice-squad elevation points to a player the staff believes is ready to be activated.
Brock Bowers is dealing with the same left knee that cost him time a year ago. In the 2025 opener against the , he suffered a posterior cruciate ligament injury and a bone bruise. He played three games with the injury, then sat three more before returning to full strength. He still finished that season with 64 receptions for 680 yards and seven touchdowns in 12 games.
The September procedure this year was a trim rather than a repair, which is why Week 3 was always the realistic target. It remains a short recovery window for a tight end asked to work the middle of the field.
While Brock Bowers was out, Michael Mayer was the Las Vegas Raiders’ primary tight end. Michael Mayer caught nine passes for 55 yards in two games. He has held the blocking and two-tight-end roles Klint Kubiak prefers. He has not replaced Brock Bowers as a downfield option.
Brock Bowers has 176 catches for 1,874 yards and 12 touchdowns across his first two seasons and is regarded as one of the league’s best tight ends. Quarterback has thrown six touchdown passes in two games. Adding Brock Bowers would give the 2-0 Las Vegas Raiders their most complete receiving threat in a road game that could push them to 3-0.
