The Las Vegas Raiders were at the center of some unfortunate news on Wednesday afternoon. Superstar tight end Brock Bowers "will miss a game or two" after undergoing surgery for a meniscus trim. ESPN's Adam Schefter was first on the report.
Bowers missed portions of the 2025 campaign through injury. Now, his follow-up campaign will begin sidelined. The Raiders need two pass catchers to step up and fill his shoes as a result. Tight end Michael Mayer and wide receiver Jack Bech will likely find themselves in larger roles.
Mayer found himself in similar situations due to Bowers' 2025 injury. The former Notre Dame standout registered 35 receptions for 328 yards and a touchdown last season, including a nine-catch performance versus the New York Giants
in Week 17.
Bech is listed as the starting slot receiver on the Raiders' unofficial depth chart for Sunday's Week 1 matchup with the Miami Dolphins. The sophomore second-round pick is entering a critical year after failing to meet expectations as a rookie. With Bowers sidelined, Bech will have to be a reliable safety net for veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins.
Bowers' absence means the Raiders will have roughly 10-12 extra targets available in the passing game. Role players like Mayer and Bech will both have to prove capable of maximizing the opportunity. Bech especially needs to take advantage.
This article originally appeared on Raiders Wire: 2 Raiders who must step up following Brock Bowers' injury setback
