The Las Vegas Raiders had a great Week 1 with a win over the New England Patriots, but they didn’t come out of the game unscathed. Star tight end Brock Bowers was lighting up the Patriots’ defense before a knee injury knocked him out of the game.
The Raiders suggested that he may have been able to return had the game been closer, but they didn’t see the need to risk it. However, now that Bowers has had time since the injury, it’s looking possible he could miss time.
While he appears to have avoided serious injury, there’s no guarantee he’ll be suiting up for Monday night’s matchup with the Los Angeles Chargers.
“I’m not sure. We’ll see how it’s feeling throughout the week, but I’m hoping to play,” Bowers said when asked about the injury, per ESPN.
The Raiders would love to have Bowers for their home opener, but they’re not going to risk him making the injury worse if he’s not close to 100%. Las Vegas has an extra day to prepare, so perhaps that could be all that Bowers needs to get healthy. This will be a situation to monitor. He’s the team’s best offensive player, so missing him would be a big blow.
Who Will Step Up if Bowers Can’t Play?
If Bowers has to miss the game, it could finally be Michael Mayers‘ chance to have a big game. He played really well in Week 1, but he didn’t see many targets.
Mayer was a second-round pick in 2023, and many expected him to be a star tight end in the NFL. That hasn’t been the case so far, but he’s also missed a lot of games. He’s healthy now and could see a much bigger workload in Week 2, even if Bowers suits up.
This would also be a great time for Ashton Jeanty to finally have a breakout game. He only averaged 2.0 yards per carry in Week 1. The Raiders used the No. 6 pick on Jeanty in hopes that he’d be able to still make plays despite a shaky offensive line. The Chargers have a very good front, so it won’t be easy.
A Win in Week 2 Would Be Huge Statement For Raiders
The Raiders took care of business on the road in Week 1, which will certainly land them some respect around the NFL world. However, beating a playoff team that a lot of people are high on this season would be a much bigger deal.
A win in Week 2 would solidify the Raiders as a real threat in the AFC. It wouldn’t make them Super Bowl favorites, but it would put them in a position to make a run for a playoff spot.
It would also put the Raiders at the top of the AFC West standings over the Chargers and Chiefs. It’s early in the season, but momentum is real in the NFL. If Las Vegas beats what many believe to be one of the better teams in the league, it would be a huge confidence booster for the entire franchise.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Brock Bowers Makes Concerning Comments About Injury Status appeared first on Heavy Sports.