The return of Brock Bowers in week 9 was everything Raiders fans hoped it would be and more.
Bowers racked up 12 receptions, 127 receiving yards and 3 touchdowns against the Titans in week 9 and his role might be shifting a little from what it was a year ago.
Bowers was dynamic as a rookie, but the new coaching staff seems even more committed to using Bowers where he is best – catching and running with the football.
Former Raiders’ GM Tom Telesco acknowledged in the offseason that he drafted Bowers because of his abilities as a tight end, but also because he could be moved around like a no. 1 wide receiver. Based on how the Raiders used Bowers in week 9, it looks like he might be used as a no. 1 wide receiver now more than ever.
In week 9 against the Titans, Bowers lined up wide like a receiver on 33.3 percent of pass plays. He was in the slot on a whopping 51.3 percent of pass plays and lined up as a conventional in-line tight end on just 15.4 percent of snaps.
In the first game of the season (prior to Bowers getting injured) the Raiders used him in line as a tight end on 50 percent of snaps, so there seems to be a shift even within the parameters of this season.
Last year, the coaching staff in Las Vegas moved Bowers around, but he only lined up wide on 17.5 percent of snaps in 2024 and 26.4 percent of the plays on the line of scrimmage.
With Jakobi Meyers traded to the Jaguars, the Raiders should view Bowers as their no. 1 wide receiver (and deploy him that way), especially if the rookie wide receivers continue to take the patient route in their development.
One other note from week 9 is that third-year tight end Michael Mayer played 53 offensive snaps to Bowers’ 52.
Essentially, Mayer was playing a conventional tight end role (and sometimes even lined up as a fullback) while Bowers was all over the formation. That’s good sign for Bowers in the passing game and probably means more breakout box scores are on the way.
According to Pro Football Focus, Geno Smith has a quarterback rating of 119.2 when throwing to Bowers this season – and that’s only the third-best rating on the team. Smith has a 126.8 rating when throwing to Tre Tucker and a 129.3 rating when throwing to Ashton Jeanty.
Look for all three players to be a big part of the game plan on Thursday night against the Broncos.
x: @raidersbeat