Raiders Place Bowers on IR Due to Knee Injury

The Las Vegas Raiders placed star tight end Brock Bowers on injured reserve Wednesday, ending his second NFL season with two games remaining due to a lingering knee injury. The 23-year-old, a first-round pick in the 2024 draft, has battled the issue since Week 1, missing three games in October before returning.

Bowers, who leads the Raiders in receiving this season with 64 catches for 680 yards and seven touchdowns, will focus on recovery ahead of the 2026 campaign. Despite the injury limiting his play to 12 games, his performance has stood out on a struggling team. As a rookie last year, he set franchise marks with 112 receptions for 1,194 yards and five touchdowns, earning All-Pro honors and Pro Bowl selections in both of his professional seasons.

The decision comes as the Raiders, sitting at 2-13, navigate a nine-game losing streak. They face the New York Giants, also 2-13, on Sunday in a matchup with significant implications for the 2026 NFL draft. Both teams, along with the Cleveland Browns and Tennessee Titans at 3-12, are contending for the No. 1 overall pick. A loss to the Giants would keep Las Vegas in the mix for the top selection, followed by their regular-season...