Raiders' Brock Bowers ruled out for Sunday's game vs Colts

Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers has been ruled out of Sunday’s game in Indianapolis after team medical staff determined he is still recovering from a knee injury sustained in Week 1, the Raiders said hours before kickoff. The decision ends a stretch in which Bowers played through the injury and missed practice late in the week as his status remained in doubt.

Team officials described the injury as a posterior cruciate ligament injury accompanied by a bone bruise, both traced to the Week 1 game. Medical advisers recommended rest as the primary treatment, and the Raiders gave Bowers the day off from practice on Thursday and Friday. Head coach Pete Carroll had indicated Friday that Bowers would probably play, but the team reversed course after evaluating his recovery and announced he would not suit up.

Bowers, a 22 year old second year player, has been one of the Raiders’ primary offensive weapons despite the knee issue. Through four games this season he has 19 receptions for roughly 225 yards and no touchdowns, a marked decline from his rookie year when he had 112 catches for 1,194 yards and five touchdowns. Coaches and trainers said the injuries have limited his ability...