Raiders All-Pro Brock Bowers reportedly had meniscus trim surgery that will sideline him for season opener, maybe longer

Las Vegas Raiders All-Pro tight end Brock Bowers underwent meniscus trim surgery and is expected to miss "a game or two," ESPN reported Wednesday .

Per the report, the injury was diagnosed last week, and Bowers had the procedure in Dallas on Tuesday. Raiders beat reporters noticed Wednesday that Bowers was unexpectedly absent from practice shortly before the report of his injury emerged.

The Raiders had not confirmed or addressed Bowers' status at the time of the report.

Bowers will presumably miss Sunday's season opener against the Miami Dolphins and perhaps beyond. The news is a difficult blow for the Raiders and Bowers as he seeks to build on two standout campaigns.

A first-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, Bowers was named first-team All-Pro as a rookie after tallying 112 catches for 1,194 yards and five touchdowns. He was a Pro Bowler in 2025 despite being limited to 12 games due to a PCL sprain and bone bruise in his left knee. It's not clear from Wednesday's report which knee required surgery.

Bowers is a centerpiece of the Raiders' offense and a cornerstone of their future as they seek to rebuild around rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza. Mendoza will start his career on the bench behind veteran Kirk Cousins , but whenever he takes over, Bowers projects as his top target and a safety net for the young quarterback.

A knee injury of any kind is concerning, even if Bowers' initial timeline doesn't project to sideline him beyond two weeks. The Raiders are certainly hoping he'll return on the early end of his reported timeline and that the injury won't linger or impact his health and performance throughout the season.

The Raiders will host the Dolphins on Sunday before playing road games against the Los Angeles Chargers and New Orleans Saints in Weeks 2 and 3, respectively.

Fourth-year pro Michael Mayer is second on the Raiders depth chart and will presumably take over the role of primary pass-catching tight end as long as Bowers is out. Mayer tallied a career-high 35 catches for 328 yards and one touchdown in 13 games, including 12 starts in 2025.