Brock Bowers is out for the Las Vegas Raiders‘ opener against Miami. Who steps up as Kirk Cousins’ top target with their biggest mismatch sidelined?
Head coach Klint Kubiak confirmed Thursday that star tight end Brock Bowers has been ruled out for Sunday’s season opener against the Miami Dolphins. Bowers underwent a knee procedure this week. Kubiak had been optimistic earlier that his tight end would play, but that hope didn’t pan out. He offered little beyond, “We’ll get him back soon.”
There was better news on the ground. Running back Ashton Jeanty has practiced all week and will be suiting up.
Can the Raiders survive without Brock Bowers?
Losing the All-Pro tight end for the opener is a real blow to an offense that was to lean on him heavily. He was indeed being counted on as new starting quarterback Kirk Cousins’ top target. Without him, Las Vegas will need someone else, whether that’s Michael Mayer or another pass catcher, to soak up looks against a Dolphins defense that no longer has to account for its biggest mismatch.
It also increases the pressure on Jeanty, as a less effective passing attack could prompt defenses to stack the box early. Kubiak’s refusal to commit to a firm timeline suggests the team is trying to protect its flexibility. The Raiders don’t want to box themselves into a return date that could slip and create more questions.
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Given how Kubiak talked about wanting Bowers back “as soon as possible” without rushing a diagnosis, it wouldn’t be surprising if the Raiders play this cautiously and aim for a Week 3 or Week 4 return rather than pushing him back for a game that isn’t do or die.
So who do you think steps up as Cousins’ top target this week, and does Bowers’ absence change how confident you are in this offense out of the gate?
*Top Photo: Ramble Illustration/Getty Images