Back to today’s briefing

Story perspectives

Brock Bowers to miss Raiders opener after meniscus trim

9/10/2026

20 3 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

Tight end Brock Bowers will miss one to two games after undergoing a meniscus trim.
Dr. Daniel Cooper performed the procedure on September 8, 2026 in Dallas.
Backup tight end Michael Mayer will start, with Ian Thomas as the secondary option.
The Raiders open the season at home against the Miami Dolphins on September 13, 2026.
Head coach Klint Kubiak said he expected all players ready for the Sunday opener.

History

Historical Context

After the NFL introduced a limited-return injured-reserve rule in 2012, the league has expanded the mechanism—most recently capping activations at eight players in 2022—to let teams replace sidelined athletes without breaching the 53-man roster. In 2026, Raiders tight end Brock Bowers underwent a meniscus trim, prompting Michael Mayer to start against Miami under that same roster-flexibility framework.

1 of 2

Story summary

Tight end Brock Bowers will miss one to two games after undergoing a meniscus trim.
Dr. Daniel Cooper performed the procedure on September 8, 2026 in Dallas.
Backup tight end Michael Mayer will start, with Ian Thomas as the secondary option.
The Raiders open the season at home against the Miami Dolphins on September 13, 2026.
Head coach Klint Kubiak said he expected all players ready for the Sunday opener.

1 / 2