Raiders tight end Brock Bowers will play in Saints game

NEW ORLEANS — The Las Vegas Raiders found a way to win their first two games without Brock Bowers.

Now, they get to find out how much better they can be with him.

The star tight end has been cleared to play and will make his 2026 debut Sunday against the Saints, giving quarterback Kirk Cousins another dynamic weapon as the Raiders try to improve to 3–0 under first-year coach Klint Kubiak.

Bowers missed the opening two games after undergoing a procedure to trim the meniscus in his left knee. His return brings a dimension the Raiders have been missing, even while finding enough answers to beat the Dolphins and Chargers.

Against Miami, Ashton Jeanty supplied 147 yards from scrimmage, and Michael Mayer helped fill the void at tight end. A week later, Tre Tucker stretched the Chargers’ defense with a 40-yard touchdown catch and a 42-yard reception that helped set up a field goal before halftime.

The Raiders scored 27 points in the opener and followed with a 26–14 victory over Los Angeles.

They have built a foundation. Bowers gives them an opportunity to expand it.

His ability to attack the middle of the field, create mismatches against linebackers and defensive backs, and turn short completions into substantial gains should give Cousins more options and Kubiak more ways to challenge defenses.

The potential benefits extend beyond the passes thrown his way.

Extra attention devoted to Bowers could create more favorable opportunities outside for Tucker and the other receivers. His presence could also complicate how aggressively the Saints commit defenders to slowing Jeanty.

For an offense still finding its footing, those are meaningful possibilities.

There is plenty left to sharpen. The Raiders overcame dropped passes and missed opportunities against the Chargers, including a possession in which four consecutive runs near the goal line failed to produce a touchdown.

Bowers cannot fix every issue. His return does, however, give the Raiders another answer when drives stall or defenses take away their first option.

They have already shown they can win without their premier offensive playmaker.

Sunday offers a chance to show what happens when he joins an offense that has started building confidence.

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