Ahead of his first NFL season, Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers has been sidelined for weeks with a foot injury, and we haven’t seen him since Week 1’s preseason game against the Minnesota Vikings.
Ahead of the Raiders’ Week 3 preseason game that Bowers ultimately missed, head coach Antonio Pierce provided an update on the 13th overall pick, saying Bowers was dealing with an unspecified foot injury.
The good news is that Pierce hasn’t expressed any concerns about Bowers’ ability to be ready for Week 1.
“Yeah, just to be safe.” Pierce said Asked if his rookie tight end would be ready for Week 1, he said, “He hurt his foot and we just want to protect him.”
The Raiders were back on the practice field on Tuesday and we got an update on Bowers’ participation in practice.
Brock Bowers injured
According to Tashan Reed of The AthleticBowers didn’t participate in Tuesday’s practice, which obviously isn’t ideal. However, there’s still a week of practice after this one, so it’s possible the Raiders are simply taking their time with him. We shouldn’t hit the panic button just yet.
#The Raiders TE Brock Bowers (foot) is not practicing today. Antonio Pierce said last week it was a precaution.
— Tashan Reed (@tashanreed) August 28, 2024
Bowers enters the NFL with a lot of hype, as many consider him a generational talent at the tight end position. In his preseason debut a few weeks ago, Bowers showed why there is so much hype surrounding him.
The Georgia product recorded two receptions for 25 yards, showing his versatility and ability to gain yards after the catch. He lined up in the slot, on the flanks, in the line and even in the backfield.
The Raiders also have Michael Mayer, but they’re expected to run a lot of two-tight-end sets, and as mentioned, Bowers can line up anywhere on the field, so the young tight ends aren’t likely to get in each other’s way in terms of snaps. In fact, the Raiders will opt for the more dynamic Bowers more often.
Bowers’ biggest concern is the quarterback situation. Gardner Minshew will start the season at center, but that’s not a given. The same can be said for his backup, Aidan O’Connell, who has been in the job for two years.
That said, Bowers is the perfect safety blanket for less talented quarterbacks and just needs the ball in his hands to make things happen. He should be fine and should contribute big time in Year 1.
