Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers is expected to miss Sunday’s Week 2 road game against the Los Angeles Chargers because of his ongoing knee injury, according to Sunday morning reporting carried by NFL.com. The update moves Bowers’ status from merely doubtful to an expectation that he will not play, giving Las Vegas a much clearer picture of how it will have to structure its offense at SoFi Stadium.
The Raiders had already prepared for that possibility. Bowers did not practice Wednesday or Thursday before returning as a limited participant Friday, when Las Vegas officially listed him as doubtful. FSN previously covered the club’s decision to elevate Chris Myarick while Bowers remained doubtful, a roster move that gave the team additional tight end depth if its star could not go.
What changed with Brock Bowers’ Week 2 status
Friday’s designation left a small possibility that Bowers could improve enough over the weekend to play. Sunday’s reporting narrowed that window considerably. NFL.com’s Week 2 injury tracker reported that Bowers, who entered the weekend doubtful with the knee issue, will not play against the Chargers.
The Raiders’ official injury report showed the progression that led to this point: Bowers was a non-participant in the first two practices of the week and then managed only limited work Friday. That followed a Week 1 absence while he recovered from the same knee problem.
For Las Vegas, the key development is not that Bowers was dealing with an injury — that had been known throughout the week — but that the offense now has to plan for another game without one of its most productive and versatile targets.
Raiders must redistribute targets without Bowers
Bowers’ value goes beyond traditional tight end usage. He can line up attached to the formation, in the slot or split wide, giving the Raiders a flexible matchup piece who can help dictate coverage. Without him, Las Vegas loses both a high-volume receiving option and some of the formation versatility built into its passing game.
The Saturday elevation of Myarick was an early indication that the Raiders wanted more depth available at tight end. It does not mean Myarick simply inherits Bowers’ role. More likely, Las Vegas will divide the workload among its available tight ends while shifting a larger share of the passing-game responsibility to its wide receivers and running backs.
The matchup also becomes more difficult because the Raiders are facing a Chargers defense in an early AFC West game. Las Vegas enters Week 2 at 1-0, while Los Angeles is 0-1, making the divisional stakes meaningful even this early in the season.
Bowers’ knee remains the bigger issue beyond Sunday
Bowers missed the Raiders’ opener after a meniscus procedure and has not yet been able to return to a full practice workload. The fact that he progressed to limited work Friday is a positive sign, but the expected Week 2 absence means the Raiders still have to manage his recovery carefully rather than simply push him back onto the field.
The next checkpoint will be whether Bowers can increase his practice participation ahead of Week 3. A return to full work would represent a meaningful step, while another week of limited or missed practices would keep his availability uncertain.
For Sunday, however, the practical takeaway is straightforward: Las Vegas is expected to face the Chargers without Bowers, and the offense will again have to function without its premier tight end.