Brock Bowers’ Potential Return Could Give Raiders Another Gear Against Saints

The Raiders have opened 2-0 without Brock Bowers. His possible return against New Orleans would give Kirk Cousins another proven target and Klint Kubiak more ways to attack.

The Raiders have won twice without Brock Bowers. Now their offense could get its most productive receiver from the past two seasons back for a trip to New Orleans.

Bowers was limited in Wednesday’s practice with a knee injury. His availability for Sunday remains unresolved, and the Raiders had not posted a final game designation as of Thursday morning.

That leaves Las Vegas preparing for two versions of its Week 3 offense. One has already helped produce a 2-0 start. The other could add a player capable of making Kirk Cousins’ reads more rewarding and the Saints’ coverage decisions more difficult.

The Raiders visit the 1-1 Saints on Sunday, September 27, with kickoff scheduled for 4:25 p.m. ET at Caesars Superdome.

Where Bowers’ Return Stands

Bowers missed the first two games of the season. According to Raiders.com’s Levi Edwards, he practiced on a limited basis last Friday and participated in pregame warmups before the Chargers game, but remained out of the lineup.

That sequence matters when assessing Wednesday’s participation. Practicing is progress, but Bowers had already reached that stage before sitting out Week 2.

For now, the remaining practice reports and eventual game designation will carry more weight than any expectation built around his presence on the field. The Raiders have yet to establish whether he will play Sunday or what workload he could handle if available.

Cousins Has Already Spread the Production Around

Las Vegas enters this matchup with evidence that its passing game can function while Bowers works back.

Cousins has thrown for 413 yards and six touchdowns through two games, completing nearly 68 percent of his passes. He threw three touchdown passes in the 26-14 victory over the Chargers, including two to Cody White.

The distribution was encouraging, too. Cousins completed passes to eight different receivers against Los Angeles, while Tre Tucker supplied receptions of 40 and 42 yards.

Bowers would give that group another established option. He finished 2025 with 64 catches, 680 receiving yards and seven touchdowns in 12 games. His rookie season produced 112 catches for 1,194 yards and five scores.

The opportunity for Klint Kubiak is to combine that production with the options Cousins has already used successfully. A defense accounting for Bowers inside could leave Tucker with more favorable space outside. If New Orleans protects against deeper throws, Bowers could provide an underneath completion that keeps the offense on schedule.

Those are potential advantages, contingent on his availability and the coverage. Cousins would still need to take the opening the Saints actually give him.

The Running Game Still Needs Help

The clearest area for improvement is on the ground.

Edwards’ mailbag, citing Next Gen Stats, reported that Ashton Jeanty was contacted at or behind the line of scrimmage on 61.9 percent of his carries against the Chargers. Six of his runs were stuffed.

That makes blocking execution a central issue heading into Sunday. Asking Jeanty to repeatedly escape immediate contact limits how much a running game can contribute, regardless of the receiving talent around him.

There is an opening against New Orleans. The Saints have allowed five yards per carry through two games and 136.5 rushing yards per game.

If Bowers plays, Kubiak could use his receiving threat to make linebackers hesitate before committing downhill. Play-action and throws into the space behind those defenders would give Las Vegas ways to challenge an aggressive response to the run.

The line would still have to create room. Bowers’ presence could complicate the defense’s assignments; better blocking would allow Jeanty to benefit from that uncertainty.

Goodwin’s Read

The most useful version of a Bowers return would fit him into the offense’s existing rhythm. Cousins has already found multiple scoring options, and Tucker has shown how quickly the Raiders can gain ground through the air.

Adding Bowers could make those options harder to cover together. His value would show up in sustained possessions, favorable matchups and the freedom to attack whichever area New Orleans leaves exposed.

First, the Raiders need to learn whether he can play. If that answer arrives this week, a team already carrying two wins into New Orleans could have another way to earn its third.

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