Raiders’ Klint Kubiak Walks Back Brock Bowers Availability Ahead of Opener

Brock Bowers suffered from a meniscus injury and is yet to fully recover.

Raiders’ Klint Kubiak Walks Back Brock Bowers Availability Ahead of Opener

Brock Bowers (Image via IMAGO)

Brock Bowers will miss the Las Vegas Raiders opening day fixture against the Miami Dolphins. But the question is: when will the Pro Bowl tight end return to the starting lineup? Reporters asked head coach Klint Kubiak about Bowers timeline, but he refused to give up any information.

Kubiak’s first game as the Raiders head honcho is against the Dolphins of the AFC East. Oddsmakers predict a close game; that’s because the Raiders won’t field their star pass-catching tight end, Brock Bowers.

According to reports from ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Bowers has yet to completely recover from a meniscus injury he sustained during offseason practice. Bowers is expected to miss a “game or two.”

Reporters asked Kubiak for an ETA on Bowers’ return. Kubiak refused to speak much on the topic.

I’m not going to talk about timelines. We’ll hope to get him back as soon as possible.

Klint Kubiak said

Later, it was reported that Bowers underwent surgery and will miss the week one fixture. The timing of Bowers’ surgery is very unfortunate. Kubiak was asked when he found out about the surgery.

It all happened pretty quick[ly]. I don’t remember exactly what day. But he got it cleaned up, and we’ll get him back soon.

Bowers started his second year in the NFL with a bang. He had five receptions for 103 yards. But left the game after hurting his knee. Bowers played the next three games while carrying a PCL injury and a bone bruise in his left knee.

The Raiders sidelined Bowers to avoid aggravating his injury further. The Raiders designated him to return after their bye week. Bowers started against the Jacksonville Jaguars. He caught 12 passes for 123 yards and three touchdowns.

Bowers short spell lasted until the end of December. As any hope of postseason football was gone, the Raiders placed Bowers on season-ending injured reserve. Bowers went 64 receptions for 680 yards and seven touchdowns in 12 appearances.

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Brock Bowers can create NFL history

The Raiders haven’t drafted well since the turn of the century, except for a few. Bowers definitely falls into the category of rare draft hits.

Raiders’ Klint Kubiak Walks Back Brock Bowers Availability Ahead of Opener
Brock Bowers (Image via IMAGO)

Bowers played college football for the Georgia Bulldogs. In his three seasons, Bowers caught 175 passes for 2538 yards and scored 26 touchdowns, enough to pass off as a wide receiver.

The Raiders drafted the 6-foot-3 unit 13th overall in 2024. He appeared in every game and started in 16 of them. Bowers caught 112 passes for 1194 yards and scored 5 touchdowns, surpassing NFL icon Mike Ditka’s rookie record.

He had a shortened second year due to injuries. But that didn’t stop ESPN’s Ben Solak from dropping a very bold prediction about Bowers ahead of his third year in the league. Solak believes Bowers can win Offensive Player of the Year.

A tight end has never won the AP Offensive Player of the Year. The closest one has gotten was [Kansas City Chiefs] Travis Kelce in 2020, with a whopping three votes to tie Bills QB Josh Allen. Arizona [Cardinals[ Trey McBride got a first-place vote last year for his 126-catch, 1,239-yard, 11-touchdown season—rightfully so. But it would have been tough to catch Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba.

Solak wrote

With Bowers set to spend time on the sidelines, Solak’s prediction may not come true this year. However, crazier things have happened in the past. It all depends on how the offense will perform with Kirk Cousins under center. Kubiak’s team must rely on Tre Tucker, Jalen Nailor, Michael Mayer, Ashton Jeanty, and Mike Washington to hold down the fort until Bowers’ return.

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