As New England Patriots practice squad wide receiver Kyle Dixon took the field Wednesday, he donned the No. 89 jersey, signaling his practice responsibilities for the week: Raiders tight end Brock Bowers.
It’s a sign of how the Patriots plan to treat the All-Pro tight end ahead of their Week 5 matchup.
“Really, Brock is a receiver; that’s impressive,” head coach Mike Vrabel said. “What he does at his size, the speed, the route craft, and being able to catch at the catch point. He’s like a big slot
receiver. He has downfield speed, he runs outward breaking routes, he runs routes like a receiver, but then also he’s got the ability to double guys up inside.”
After missing the first two games with a knee injury, Bowers has paced the Raiders’ offense in two games since his return. His 25 targets are a team-high for the season, while his 16 receptions and 202 receiving yards ranks third and second on the team, respectively.
Most of that damage has come from the wide receiver position. Through two games, Bowers has played just 16 snaps inline this year compared to 61 out wide and 45 in the slot.
“He’s the number one receiver. I wouldn’t even call him a tight end,” captain Kevin Byard said. “He’s the number one receiver, one of the best tight ends in this league. So, tough matchup.”
“He’s really like a receiver,” fellow safety Craig Woodson echoed. “I mean, he has speed, good hands, good route craft. So, we’ll have to be on our technique all week. Just make sure we’re prepared for this guy.”
In just two games, Bowers’ eight third-down conversions are tied for the third-most in the NFL and are tied for the most among tight ends. New England saw just how dangerous the 23-year old can be in last year’s Week 1 matchup, when he posted 5 catches for 103 yards while playing just half of the Raiders’ offensive snaps.
The Raiders are also not afraid to get Bowers’ tight end counterpart, Michael Mayer, involved, either. Mayer leads the team with 20 receptions.
The Patriots defense did a strong job against Bills tight end Dalton Kincaid in last week’s matchup. Kincaid, who entered the week with the most receiving yards at the position was held to just one catch for seven yards. New England will look for a similar result this Sunday.
The Patriots’ defense did a strong job against Bills tight end Dalton Kincaid in last week’s matchup. Kincaid, who entered the week leading all tight ends in receiving yards, was held to just one catch for seven yards. New England will look for a similar result this Sunday.
“They’re feeding their tight ends,” Vrabel said. “They have a great group. Certainly different play styles, but Brock is as elite as they come at that position. So, we’ll have a huge challenge.”
