Brock Bowers Stays Limited Thursday as Knee Recovery Drags On
The Raiders' TE1 is still limited following a meniscus trim, and his left knee has a troubling recent history. He posted 174 PPR points in just 12 games in 2025.
Elite when healthy, but the knee needs to clear before you trust a start.
- Limited again Thursday after meniscus trim this month
- Same knee cost him time in 2025 (PCL sprain, bone bruise)
- 174 PPR points in 12 games in 2025
- TE11 and No. 87 overall in our rankings
- Injury originally happened in training camp
Brock Bowers popped up as a limited participant again on Thursday's Raiders injury report, and if you're rostering him, that's the line to keep circling. He's working back from a meniscus trim earlier this month, an issue that traces back to a left knee injury in training camp. The catch: it's the same knee that gave him trouble in 2025, when a PCL sprain and bone bruise cost him games.
That matters because Bowers isn't some replaceable piece. In just 12 games last season (2025), he racked up 64 catches for 680 yards and 7 touchdowns — good for 174 PPR points and a spot as our TE11, No. 87 overall. When he plays, he's a needle-mover at a position that mostly isn't. When he doesn't, your lineup feels it immediately.
The problem is the trend line. Limited on Wednesday, limited again Thursday — no bump to full participation yet, and no clean signal that he's ready to shoulder a real workload. A meniscus trim is a relatively routine procedure, but the recurring nature of this specific knee is the part that should give you pause before you pencil him in.
The Rest of the Raiders Report
Elsewhere, the Raiders added defensive end Kwity Paye with an illness — he didn't practice. Quarterback Aidan O'Connell (personal) and safety Treydan Stukes (concussion) also sat out. On the encouraging side, four players returned to full: linebacker Nakobe Dean (shoulder), DT Folorunso Fatukasi (shoulder), corner Darien Porter (foot) and receiver Dareke Young (hamstring), all of whom were limited Wednesday.
Young is worth a glance only if you're desperate in the deepest of leagues — he's WR179 in our rankings with 7 PPR points across 9 games in 2025. That's a defensive-package name, not a fantasy asset. Linebacker Segun Olubi (knee) and DT JJ Pegues (back) were full again, so no drama there.
The fantasy move on Bowers: don't cut him, but don't blindly slot him either. If he doesn't reach full participation by the weekend, treat him as a game-time call and have a streamer warmed up. He's a top-12 tight end when right, so the upside justifies holding through a limited week or two — just make sure your bench isn't naked at TE while you wait for that green light.
