The Raider faithful and fantasy football managers are shaking their heads following Wednesday, September 9’s surprising injury news for Raiders TE Brock Bowers, who underwent a meniscus trim on Tuesday.
Following the news, Bowers is is expected to miss at least Week 1 vs. the Dolphins, but how long could that absence continue?
Let’s look at recent examples of players undergoing a meniscus trim, forming expectations for the latest Brock Bowers injury update. Plus, we’ll dive into how the injury impacts the Raiders’ fantasy football outlook and player picks for PrizePicks.
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Brock Bowers Injury Update: How Long Could Bowers Be Out for Raiders?
There’s been some conflicting reports around how long Bowers could be out with the knee injury. Adam Schefter and Ian Rapoport of ESPN initially broke the story, circling “a game or two” as his potential absence.
However, other insiders like Ari Meirov of The 33rd Team pointed to a four-to-six week recovery as the norm for a meniscus trim.
Ahead of the 2019 season, then-Seahawks WR DK Metcalf underwent knee surgery and returned in only 19 days. If Bowers follows this path, that would put him in line to miss Week 1 and Week 2, with day 19 falling on Sunday, September 27, vs. the Saints in Week 3.
Before the 2023 season, CB Jalen Ramsey had the option to undergo a meniscus trim but instead had a full MCL repair that held him out for about three months. Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy also avoided a meniscus trim before his 2024 rookie season, opting for a meniscus repair surgery that meant missing the entire regular season.
Even in Metcalf’s extreme example, Bowers is likely to miss the first two games of the regular season. However, that usual four-to-six-week absence can’t be ignored. In a more extreme case, worries surrounding a second surgery are also in the cards.
The Raiders must prepare to replace Bowers’ presence. Who could step up in his absence for fantasy football and player picks on PrizePicks?
Raiders Fantasy Football Outlook: Michael Mayer Up Next?
After logging 112 receptions and 1,194 receiving yards in 2024, Bowers played in only 12 games with 64 catches and 680 receiving yards last season.
According to PlayerProfiler, Bowers still had one of 2025’s highest volumes among TEs when active, featuring a 23.6% target share (second), 22.8% air yards share (second), and 85.5% snap share (eighth).
Las Vegas’ only notable offseason addition to the receiving unit was WR Jalen Nailor in free agency, and he tallied 414 and 444 receiving yards over his last two seasons. The Raiders feature one of the league’s worst WR corps, led by WR Tre Tucker, meaning Bowers was likely preparing to be the unit’s top target.
Adding to the trouble, RB Ashton Jeanty has battled an ankle injury, though he’s expected to play in Week 1. Paired with rookie RB Mike Washington Jr. turning heads, Las Vegas could look to lean on the run while Bowers is out.
TE Michael Mayer is Bowers’ immediate replacement, and he carries plenty of experience with 12, 8, and 12 starts over his last three seasons. However, his impact in the receiving game has been minimal, with 2.7 receptions and 25.2 receiving yards per game last season.
When Bowers was out in 2025, Mayer recorded 4.5 receptions and 49.0 receiving yards per game over a four-game split. PrizePicks projects Mayer for 4.5 receptions and 39.5 receiving yards vs. the Dolphins on Sunday.
As we monitor Bowers’ injury over the coming weeks, Mayer becomes an obvious add to your fantasy football roster while gaining more attention for picks on PrizePicks. Plus, Jeanty and Washington become more intriguing with the Raiders potentially running the rock more often.
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Brock Bowers may be slated to miss at least two games from his meniscus trim on Tuesday, shifting attention to backup TE Michael Mayer and RBs Ashton Jeanty and Mike Washington Jr. for fantasy football and player picks on PrizePicks.
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