Lost in the Las Vegas Raiders' struggles in 2025 are the challenges faced by star tight end Brock Bowers.
It's an essential detail in the overall equation, but the average fan might overlook how Bowers' health hurdles have limited his ability to help Las Vegas' 30th-ranked offense, the same unit that totaled a miserable 95 yards in their last outing.
Bowers has been battling through a knee injury suffered in Week 1 and hasn't seen the field in October. After the Raiders' Week 8 bye, they believe they're thankfully about to see Bowers back at full strength.
"He's back," coach Pete Carroll said on Wednesday, via ESPN. "Last week, he looked good every day, particularly good on the Monday practice. And he kind of stole the show a little bit. So, we're thrilled to have him back."
The Raiders couldn't need him more. Since Bowers was sidelined, they've averaged 139.3 passing yards per game. Their offense has cratered across the board, and despite winning one of those three games (a 20-10 victory over the lowly Titans), the Raiders haven't presented much of a threat to any opponent over the last six weeks.
Bowers' lack of production has a lot to do with that. Last season, the then-rookie caught 112 passes for 1,194 yards and five touchdowns, leading the Raiders in receiving and almost single handedly carrying their passing game despite playing with three different quarterbacks. In just 17 games, the Georgia product declared himself as an elite tight end and a cornerstone for the Raiders moving forward.
Geno Smith's arrival was supposed to solidify the QB position and allow Bowers to feast. Instead, the TE's been forced to play at well below 100 percent.
"It sucked, to be honest," Bowers said. "But it's in the past. I'm excited to get back out there."
Hopefully, that should change starting with Week 9 against Jacksonville.
"Brock is a big part of our offense, and we missed him out there for sure," Smith said. "He looked fine to me. So, really happy to have him back."
The Raiders might be participating in some wishful thinking, but at 2-5, it's the only option they have left. Rookie running back Ashton Jeanty has spent most of his first season running into brick walls dressed in the opposition's colors, while Smith hasn't found many open targets -- and that's if he's even afforded the time to throw.
It's a lot to expect from one player, but the Raiders are pinning their offensive hopes on Bowers. We'll see if it bears fruit in the weeks ahead.
