Raiders’ Brock Bowers Sends Confident Message to Michael Mayer
The Las Vegas Raiders opened Week 1 with a victory over the New England Patriots, but the win came with some concern as Brock Bowers suffered a knee injury after a strong performance.
On September 13, ESPN’s Ryan McFadden reported that Bowers is listed as questionable for the upcoming Monday night game against the Los Angeles Chargers. However, Raiders head coach Pete Carroll remains optimistic that Bowers will be available for the game.
If Bowers is unable to play or is limited, quarterback Geno Smith may turn to Michael Mayer for more contributions. Bowers, though, has full confidence in Mayer’s ability to step up if needed, praising his teammate’s skills and work ethic.
“He’s a man,” Bowers said on September 13. “He went out there [against the Patriots] and played like he always does. He’s a baller, and when he gets the ball, he makes great plays. It’s good to see.”
Raiders’ Tight End Depth Proves Valuable
Even if Bowers is limited, the Raiders have strong depth at the tight end position. Offensive coordinator Chip Kelly highlighted Mayer’s abilities on September 12, emphasizing that the team is well-prepared to rely on him if Bowers is sidelined or restricted.
“I’ve been a huge Mike fan since I got here, and Pete [Carroll] is right,” Kelly said. “Not many teams have the luxury of two talented players like that. I’ll throw Ian in there too—he played 20 snaps. Having three tight ends who can all play and have proven themselves in the NFL is huge.”
Kelly continued, noting that the team’s depth was put to the test when Bowers was briefly sidelined during the third and fourth quarters of the Patriots game. Mayer rose to the occasion, making key catches, gaining yards after the catch, and blocking well at the line of scrimmage.
Bowers Provides Injury Update
Speaking to reporters on September 13, Bowers offered an update on his knee injury heading into the Raiders’ game against the Chargers.
“It’s hard to say,” Bowers remarked. “I’m just going to keep working at it and see how I feel over the next couple of days. We’ll see.”
If Bowers plays against the Chargers, he will have to wear a knee brace, something he admitted he wasn’t thrilled about.
“It’s not ideal,” Bowers said. “I’d rather not wear it, but I’ll do whatever they ask. If it comes down to me playing, I’ll wear it.”
While it remains to be seen how much Bowers will be able to contribute, all indications point to him playing, albeit possibly in a limited role.
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