Brock Bowers’ second NFL season with the Las Vegas Raiders has been marred by some nagging injury issues.
The superstar tight end has been on and off the field since he suffered a knee injury in the Raiders’ Week 1 win over the New England Patriots.
Bowers battled through his PCL sprain injury in Weeks 2-4, but suffered a setback in the Raiders’ Week 4 loss to the Chicago Bears. The former No. 13 overall pick has subsequently missed each of Las Vegas’ last two games — and it’s looking like he’ll miss another in Week 7.
Bowers was listed as a non-participant in Wednesday’s practice session as the Raiders prepare for their Week 7 matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday.
Wide receiver Jakobi Meyers, a rumored trade target, was also a non-participant with knee/toe injuries.
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Bowers is unlikely to take the field for Sunday’s AFC West matchup against the Chiefs. Earlier this week, Raiders head coach Pete Carroll hinted at a return after the team’s Week 8 bye.
“We’re looking after him. There’s a big bye coming up and all that stuff next week,” Carroll told reporters. “That’s a couple weeks [of rest] you get before you have to come back. I’m optimistic always, but that doesn’t mean we’re getting him back. You look at the long haul of it, it might be best to just guarantee that he’s full speed and back. We’ll see how we handle that.”
Bowers had five catches for 108 yards before suffering his PCL sprain in Week 1. Through his next three games of action, he never topped more than 46 yards.
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In his debut NFL season out of Georgia, Bowers set rookie tight end records in both receptions (112) and receiving yards (1,194). The Raiders are hoping he can return to that elite production once he’s fully healthy.
Sunday’s Week 7 matchup against the Chiefs will kickoff at 1 p.m. ET in Arrowhead Stadium.
