All eyes are on Brock Bowers in Week 7, as the hope has been that this would finally be the week the Las Vegas Raiders star returns to action after missing the previous two games due to a knee injury.
Bowers' week got started off on the wrong foot after he didn't take part in practice on either Wednesday or Thursday.
However, there was a glimmer of hope on Friday, as Bowers turned in a limited practice, which marked his first practice participation in weeks.
But the fact that Bowers was only limited left plenty of doubt. Here's what we know about his status for Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Is Brock Bowers playing today?
No, Bowers is not expected to play against the Chiefs on Sunday, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.
Schefter did add, however, that Bowers "will have a good chance" to get back on the field after the Raiders' bye, which is in Week 8.
"Raiders TE Brock Bowers, listed as doubtful for Sunday’s game due to his knee injury, is not expected to play vs. the Chiefs, per source. The Raiders’ bye is next week, and Bowers will have a good chance to return after the bye," Schefter said.
Head coach Pete Carroll strongly hinted the plan was to keep Bowers out earlier in the week, so this is no surprise.
“I’m hopeful, but we’re looking after him,” Carroll said of Bowers. “There’s a big bye coming up and all that kinda stuff. An extra week, a couple of weeks you’d get, before you’d have to come back. I’m optimistic always, but that doesn’t mean we’re getting him back. You look at the long haul of it, it might be best to just guarantee that he’s full speed and back. So we’ll see how we handle that.”
Who is Brock Bowers' handcuff?
We do have a viable handcuff for Bowers on the Raiders' roster and it comes in the form of tight end Michael Mayer, who ripped off five catches for 50 yards and a touchdown last week with Bowers sidelined.
Michael Mayer start or sit advice
The Chiefs have been very stingy against opposing tight ends this season, with Kansas City ceding just the fifth-fewest fantasy points per game to the position.
That said, Bowers won't play and wide receiver Jakobi Meyers might sit (he's a game-time decision), also, so quarterback Geno Smith might have to lean on his backup tight end heavily.
That and a small pool of viable options at the position overall keeps Mayer on the fantasy radar in Week 7, despite the matchup. Consider him a TE2 play.
Verdict: Start
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