NFL insider reveals Brock Bowers' status for Week 1

Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

NFL insider reveals Brock Bowers' status for Week 1 vs. Dolphins

By Steven Kubitza | Last updated Sep 9, 2026 4:57 PM ET

The Las Vegas Raiders are gearing up for a Week 1 showdown against the Miami Dolphins on Sunday. The team will be doing so without the services of star tight end Brock Bowers.

ESPN's Adam Schefter revealed the latest Bowers update as Week 1 gets underway on Wednesday.

Bowers is reportedly set to miss "a game or two" after undergoing a minor procedure on his meniscus.

Raiders favored in Week 1 even without Brock Bowers

Raiders All-Pro tight end Brock Bowers underwent a meniscus trim Tuesday in Dallas with Dr. Daniel Cooper and now is expected to miss “a game or two”, league sources told @rapsheet and me. Bowers got banged up “a little in camp” and the injury was diagnosed last week and surgery… pic.twitter.com/42ANGHbYSC
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 9, 2026

The Raiders open the season with a home game against the Dolphins, who are considered to be one of the worst teams in the NFL this season. That comes as Miami rebuilds following the costly release of Tua Tagovailoa.

Losing Bowers is a blow to the offense, but not an insurmountable one.

2023 second-round pick Michael Mayer will now slot in as the top tight end. He finished last season with 35 receptions for 328 yards and a touchdown in a reserve role behind Bowers. Now, he can shine in the top spot with Kirk Cousins leaning on him in the passing game.

Bowers is a former No. 13 overall pick who burst onto the scene with a huge rookie season in 2024. He finished with 112 receptions for 1,194 yards and five touchdowns.

He took a step back in 2025 as he dealt with injuries throughout the season, limiting him to 12 games. He did, however, haul in seven touchdowns in that limited action.

Bowers missing a couple of games won't be a big blow for the Raiders. It will also allow Mayer to take on a bigger role from the start and potentially make him a weapon for the entire season.

A win over Miami is expected with or without Bowers. A loss, meanwhile, may speed up the clock for No. 1 pick Fernando Mendoza to take over the starting quarterback job sooner than expected.

Steven Kubitza

Steven Kubitza is a Cleveland, Ohio, native with over a decade in the news industry. His work has been featured on Yahoo Sports, FOX Sports, and FanSided, among other outlets. He is a lifelong Browns fan who is convinced the team will turn things around at some point in the next 50 years

More must-reads: