Brock Bowers will miss a second straight game Sunday when the Las Vegas Raiders visit the Los Angeles Chargers, but the star tight end is trending toward a return next week, Ian Rapoport said on NFL GameDay.
Rapoport said Bowers’ return to practice Friday was the key sign.
“Bowers was back at practice on Friday, giving an indication that he should be good to go next week for the Raiders,” Rapoport said.
That would put Bowers’ 2026 debut on Sept. 27 at the Caesars Superdome against the New Orleans Saints. Kickoff is 4:25 p.m. ET on CBS.
Bowers had a meniscus trim on his left knee Sept. 8, a procedure Rapoport and ESPN colleague Adam Schefter had reported. He missed the Week 1 win over the Miami Dolphins, then sat out practice Wednesday and Thursday before working as a limited participant Friday.
The Raiders listed him as doubtful for Sunday’s 4:05 p.m. ET game at SoFi Stadium. Coach Klint Kubiak had planned a pregame workout before making a final call and said he was optimistic about Week 3.
The trip to New Orleans is also a return for Kubiak. He was the Saints’ offensive coordinator before Las Vegas hired him as head coach.
The Raiders won the last meeting between the teams, 25-10, on Dec. 29, 2024, at the Superdome. Las Vegas leads the all-time series 8-7-1.
Las Vegas is trying to climb out of a 3-14 finish in 2025, which left the Raiders fourth in the AFC West.
The quarterback room has changed since then. Veteran Kirk Cousins signed in free agency, and the Raiders used the No. 1 overall pick in April on Fernando Mendoza, who won the Heisman Trophy and a national title at Indiana.
Bowers would give either passer his most productive target.
He set an NFL rookie record with 112 receptions in 2024 and finished with 1,194 receiving yards, the most ever by a rookie tight end. Injuries limited him to 12 games in 2025, when he caught 64 passes for 680 yards and seven touchdowns.
The Raiders have gotten by without him so far. Michael Mayer caught six passes for 32 yards in the opener, and running back Ashton Jeanty had two receiving touchdowns. Tight end Chris Myarick was elevated from the practice squad Saturday.
The Saints enter Week 3 after facing the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday.
Should Bowers get through a full practice week without a setback, the Superdome would host his first game action since the procedure.
