The Las Vegas Raiders will have rookie tight end Brock Bowers available for Week 1 after he was cleared from the injury report ahead of their matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pellissero.
Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce addressed Bowers’ injury earlier in the week, noting that the decision to keep him on the injury report was merely a precaution. “Yeah, just precautionary,” Pierce explained. “Got a foot injury and we just want to protect him.”
Bowers has been managing this foot injury throughout most of the preseason. He played 14 snaps in the Raiders’ first preseason game but did not participate in the subsequent two games to allow his injury to heal. The team is understandably being very cautious with the promising rookie.
Davante Adams has spoken highly of Bowers, praising his professionalism. “He is all business on the field,” Adams said, as reported by Vic Tafur of The Athletic. “He doesn’t care about anything else… He hasn’t laughed at one of my jokes yet. … I’ve seen the tape. I know what he is about. He is a big, strong dude that is driven. Sky’s the limit.”
Despite the hype surrounding players each offseason, Bowers might still be flying under the radar. Standing at 6’3″ and weighing 243 pounds, his physical attributes and skills are reminiscent of Derrick Henry. With impressive abilities in route-running, blocking, and receiving, Bowers possesses significant potential.
Comparisons to Travis Kelce are not unwarranted. Bowers was a standout offensive force for Georgia’s national championship teams. Had he not been sidelined by injury last year, he would likely have received even more attention and highlight-worthy plays.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler noted in August that Pierce has been full of praise for Bowers, emphasizing his impact during training camp. “First-round pick Brock Bowers will be incredibly difficult to keep off the field,” Fowler reported. “He has proven to be a playmaker and has exceeded expectations as a run blocker. In one instance, he showcased his versatility by executing a motion for a run-block assignment, running a reverse play, and setting up a touchdown. While Michael Mayer will also be a key player, Bowers seems poised to make a significant impact. ‘Brock is different,’ Pierce said. ‘He’s a tight end, but he can play all over the field… He’s even more special with the ball in his hands.’”
Fans can look forward to seeing Bowers in action when the Raiders take on the Chargers on Sunday, September 8 at 4:05 p.m. EST.