HENDERSON — Brock Bowers is done being frustrated. After a rookie season that shattered records, the Las Vegas Raiders tight end spent most of 2025 playing through a lingering knee injury that sapped his production. Now, with a clean bill of health and a new coaching staff scheming ways to get him the ball, Bowers is poised to remind everyone why he was considered a generational talent.
“I feel great,” Bowers said after Thursday’s OTA practice. “It feels good to be back out there, practicing at full speed, getting back into football with all the guys again.”
The 2024 first-round pick suffered the knee injury in last year’s season opener and never fully recovered. His numbers dipped significantly from his record-breaking debut, and the frustration mounted. “Last year was frustrating. It definitely wasn’t how I planned my second year to go,” he said. “But a little adversity, and I’ve just got to come back stronger this year.”
To that end, Bowers has focused on preventative maintenance this offseason, working to stay healthy and available. “That’s half the battle, staying healthy and staying available week to week,” he said. He’s also refining his craft — releases, route running, blocking techniques.
New coach Klint Kubiak has already taken notice, calling Bowers a “football robot from heaven” after just a few practices. Bowers laughed off the nickname but acknowledged the compliment. “That was a first, but I guess it’s a compliment. So, it’s pretty funny,” he said.
Offensive coordinator Andrew Janocko, who along with Kubiak helped guide the Seattle Seahawks to a Super Bowl title last season, sees Bowers as a game-changer. “When you have a great tight end that can do stuff for your offense that can change games, that can change the way you attack defenses,” Janocko said. “He has that approach where he just comes to work every single day.”
Bowers is also building chemistry with two new quarterbacks — veteran Kirk Cousins and No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza. During Thursday’s practice, he hauled in a deep touchdown from Cousins. “He’s a veteran guy, so he’s seen a lot of stuff,” Bowers said of Cousins. “He throws the ball, he’s been around the league a while. He’s just a great QB.”
Of Mendoza, Bowers said: “He’s a great guy and a great guy to have in the locker room. Being a rookie quarterback, it’s a lot of stuff mentally. I think he’s been doing a really good job at that.”
The Raiders hope a healthy Bowers can help replicate the offensive success Kubiak and Janocko had in Seattle. “Everyone saw the success they had last year, so we’re just trying to see what (the Seahawks) did well and take it from there,” Bowers said.
