The Las Vegas Raiders may need every bit of positive momentum they can find as tight end Brock Bowers works his way back.
Bowers’ girlfriend, Cameron Newell, shared a photo of him just hours after news broke that he is expected to miss the Raiders’ first two games of the season following a meniscus procedure in Dallas, Texas.
“My guy, So ready to watch you crush this season,” Newell wrote alongside the image of Bowers on her Instagram story.
In the picture, Bowers flashed a “hang loose” gesture toward Newell while wearing a sleeve over his left knee.
That left knee is the same one he injured last season, when a PCL/bone bruise issue forced him to miss time before he was eventually placed on injured reserve and sat out the final two games of the year.
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The news of Bowers being injured to start the season came hours after Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak told reporters that “We’re expecting to have all our guys ready for Sunday.”
With Bowers set to miss at least the first two games of the NFL season, the Raiders will already start the season missing a key part of their offense.
Bowers had an encouraging start to his career with the Raiders after being selected with the 13th overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft, when he appeared in 17 games and had 112 receptions for 1,194 yards and five touchdowns.
Last season, he appeared in only 12 games, but still managed to haul in 64 receptions for 680 yards and seven touchdowns.
With his departure for at least the next two games, fourth-year veteran backup tight end, former 2023 second-round pick Michael Mayer is expected to be the team’s starting tight end.