Brock Bowers injury update: Raiders make final decision on TE vs. Chargers

Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers is active for Monday night’s matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers, the team announced. Bowers had previously been listed questionable due to a knee injury.

Bowers did not practice during the week, but was a limited participant on Saturday. His involvement in Saturday’s practice opened the door for him to play, and it appears Las Vegas will attempt to put him on the field against their divisional foe.

The tight end suffered the injury when Bowers took a big hit out of bounds on a 38-yard reception in the third quarter a Week 1 contest against the New England Patriots. He did not return to the game but told reporters afterward that he was “fine.”

That certainly looks to be true given the fact that he was activated for this contest. He’ll figure to be a key target for quarterback Geno Smith after managing five catches for 103 yards in the 20-13 win against the Patriots.

Bowers is coming off a strong rookie season, in which he totaled 112 receptions for 1,194 yards — both rookie records — and five touchdowns. Similar production is expected during his sophomore season if he can stay healthy.

The Raiders selected Brock Bowers with the 13th overall pick out of Georgia in the 2024 NFL Draft. He’s been as advertised since entering the league, and Las Vegas hopes to have him back at full strength sooner rather than later.

Kickoff is set for 10 p.m. ET. The game will air live on ESPN as a part of the Week 2 Monday Night Football double-header which includes the Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Houston Texans. The Raiders are a 3.5-point underdog against the Chargers in Las Vegas, according to BetMGM. The over/under is set at 46.5 total points.

Rob Gronkowski says Brock Bowers is an ‘absolute savage’

Rob Gronkowski loved what Brock Bowers did during his rookie season with the Las Vegas Raiders. The four-time Super Bowl champion tight end spoke to On3 before Super Bowl LIX and shared his thoughts on Bowers following the end of last season.

“Brock Bowers is an absolute savage,” Rob Gronkowski told On3. “What I like most about him is that he has such reliable hands, wherever the ball is thrown, he’s like a vacuum, he’ll go and get that ball. And then he’s got such great yards after the catch as well, he pummels through defenders and he makes those defensive backs in and safeties tackle him. So I just love his game overall, especially how crisp his routes are as well.”

On3’s Brian Jones contributed to this report.