Bowers Is Day-to-Day, and Mayer's Moment Is Now

Brock Bowers remains out, listed as day-to-day following his meniscus surgery, which means the tight end situation the Raiders have been managing since Week 1 is still Michael Mayer's to handle heading into Week 2.

Mayer's role here isn't a surprise — I noted when the extension got done last week that the timing felt deliberate, the Raiders locking in their backup plan right as Bowers's timeline was still unclear. Now that plan is active. Mayer caught 35 passes for 328 yards and a touchdown across 13 games in 2025, solid enough numbers for a second tight end, less certain as a featured option. That's the ask now.

The receiving room around him — Tre Tucker, Jalen Nailor, and the rest — gives the offense enough to function. But Bowers was 64 catches and seven touchdowns last season, and that kind of production doesn't just redistribute cleanly. Mayer is a capable player. Whether he's a Week 2 starter capable of carrying that role is a different question, and one we'll start getting answered shortly.