The Las Vegas Raiders received unfortunate injury news yesterday about their star tight end, Brock Bowers, sending shockwaves through the NFL. While most players are gearing up to play this Sunday, Bowers won’t be, due to an urgent knee operation.
Being without their top target could heavily constrict the Raiders’ offense, but Cincinnati Bengals’ legend Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson isn’t too concerned about his long-term availability.
Chad Johnson Shares His Thoughts On Brock Bowers’ Injury Update
Speaking on the “Nightcap” podcast, Johnson said, “I’m really not that worried because it’s a little trim of the meniscus. It’s like getting a haircut. Now you only miss two games, and honestly, he might only miss one.”
“With time and the way technology is so advanced right now, he might recover a little faster than normal,” Johnson added. “I’m a little wary, but not too worried, though, and he (is) young. When you’re young like that, boy, you heal like Wolverine.”
Johnson shows more optimism than most, given Bowers’s history of left knee injuries.
In 2025, he injured his PCL and dealt with a bone bruise. While he played through it at the start of last season, his production dipped, and the team ultimately placed him on injured reserve for the final two weeks of the season.
Due to this, he only appeared in 12 games, recording 64 catches, 680 yards, and seven touchdowns. His performance earned him a 79.0 PFN TE Impact score, ranking eighth in the league, behind less-talented tight ends like Dallas Goedert and Hunter Henry.
Bowers appeared to have gotten healthy in the offseason, though a late-diagnosed knee injury suffered in training camp forced him to undergo a meniscus trim this Tuesday.
While reports indicate that he’s only set to miss one to two games, his history with that knee could be a bigger cause for concern.
In an offensively stacked division with the Denver Broncos, Los Angeles Chargers, and Kansas City Chiefs, the Raiders desperately need all the help they can give starting quarterback Kirk Cousins, and losing Bowers – even in the short-term, is a big blow.
Though they did acquire free agent Jalen Nailor and drafted Oregon rookie Malik Benson in the sixth round, the group could still use a huge boost of receiver talent to properly compete.
Bowers was the one option that could instill fear in the opposing defense, and now it’s unclear when he’ll make his 2026 debut.
Until then, backup tight end Michael Mayer will play a significantly larger role in the offense.
Mayer has the upside to be a starting tight end, but few, aside from him, have the talent Bowers possesses.
For now, Las Vegas will have to make do without him.
