Raiders have a ton of questions that still need to be answered before they play the Chargers on Monday Night Football

Raiders being without Bowers and Roberts would be a huge blow

On Thursday, we got an injury report in from the Raiders and their practice, which was moved back one day due to them playing on Monday Night Football, rather than on a Sunday. In that report, Bowers and Roberts did not participate in practice on Thursday. Bowers is dealing with a knee injury, and Roberts is dealing with an elbow injury. Starting the week as a DNP, or Did Not Participate, is never good news. But Friday and Saturday's reports will tell us much more.

Before practice, Bowers, the best tight end in the league, was asked if he would play.

“I'm not sure. We'll see how it's feeling throughout the week, but I'm hoping to play," Bowers told reporters on-site.

In terms of the tight end position, the Raiders have the perfect backup plan. Don't you remember a few years ago when they traded up in the second round to draft Michael Mayer , who was supposed to be a first-round tight end? Yeah, he's still on the team, and he's finally going to get his chance to show what he can do, but that's if Bowers is out. Behind Mayer, they have Ian Thomas, the former Carolina Panthers tight end who's been in the league for eight years now.

If Roberts can't go, which it sounds like he likely won't based on everything that's being reported, then the Raiders have Jamal Adams, who was the highest graded defender by PFF for the Raiders last week, and Tommy Eichenberg, who played well last week, too. Roberts is so crucial to what the Raiders do on defense, and was actually labeled by Pete Carroll as the most underrated signing, so it will be a bit of a blow not to have him. However, they prepared the depth in that position room for a reason, and it's already something they're prepared for heading into Week 2.

It won't be easy without those two guys, so the next few days are important to see how they are doing in their recovery.

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