Las Vegas Raiders' initial injury report for their matchup vs. the Tennessee Titans has both great and bad news

Raiders need both Mayer and Bowers to have more success on offense

Raiders' offensive rankings in 2025 through Week 5

• 18th in Yards Per Game at 322.8
• 16th in Passing Yards Per Game at 210.2
• 20th in Rushing Yards Per Game at 112.6
• 30th in Points Per Game at 16.6

This is one of the worst offenses in the entire league, and while Mayer and Bowers' absences and injuries are not the reason the offenses are bad, they are one of the reasons. The playcalling honestly hasn't been that bad; in the Raiders' case, it's mostly executions, penalties, self-inflicted wounds, and turning the ball over. When you turn the ball over like the Raiders have been, it's nearly impossible to win. Las Vegas has the second-worst turnover differential in the league at -6.

Getting guys like Mayer and Bowers back would not only help the pass game but the run game, too. Bowers was the best tight end in football last season, and a decent blocker - not great. When it comes to the passing game, he can do it all, whether it's the short game, intermediate, or even the deep ball.

Mayer is good in the passing game, too, but mostly in the short game, and then those contested jump balls. Mayer is pretty much the possession guy in the group. Where he really stands out is his pass blocking and run blocking. Getting those two back helps the offense in those areas, but also gives the offense more variety in what they can call.

You're naturally going to call more 12 personnel, or two tight end plays, when those two are available, than you will with Ian Thomas and Albert Okwuegbunam. Two of the tight ends that have been out are not the reason the offense is bad; there are so many other things, but they will help get it to where it needs to be if they can both go on Sunday.

But also, the only way Bowers will get his bone bruise in his knee to get any better is by resting. So, if that's needed, he should still do that, as he's the future of this team.

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