The Las Vegas Raiders have gotten off to a rough start this season, despite optimism surrounding the team entering the year. The Raiders hired a new head coach, Pete Carroll, and acquired quarterback Geno Smith through a trade.
There was reason to be optimistic about a team that had struggled for many years prior. Unfortunately, things have not gone as planned for the Raiders, who are 1-4 this season, and injuries to a few key players may be a contributing factor.
What Is Brock Bowers’ Status for Week 6?
The Raiders missed the threat of Bowers on the field in Week 6. He is their best pass-catcher but has been a shell of himself this season due to a PCL injury and bone bruise that have impacted his play. That injury occurred in Week 1, but Bowers chose to play through it in Weeks 2-4.
According to Underdog NFL, Carroll said Bowers is “week to week” and seems to be a true question mark for their Week 6 game. Hearing “week to week” instead of “day to day” is not ideal. So Bowers missing another game is undoubtedly a possibility.
When Bowers is healthy, there is no better tight end in football. In his rookie season last year, he caught 112 passes for 1,194 yards and five touchdowns. He put up those numbers with below-average quarterback play, showing the type of talent he has.
Even at less than full strength, Bowers has a TE Impact Score of 82.3. That score is good enough for sixth-best in the NFL. Once he gets back to full strength, that will only improve a rather underwhelming Raiders offense so far this season.
Playoff Chances Look Bleak in Las Vegas
Even though they won the opening game of the season against the New England Patriots, the Raiders have lost four in a row and looked bad doing it. Their most recent loss came at the hands of the Indianapolis Colts in a 40-6 beatdown. Playing in arguably the toughest division in football, the Raiders have an uphill battle to reach playoff contention.
The biggest issue with the Raiders is that they are below average on offense and defense. They are the third-worst offense in the NFL, averaging 16.6 points per game, and are allowing 27.8 points per game. The new coaching staff does not appear to be making a significant impact, which is why the Raiders are likely headed nowhere this season.
