The Las Vegas Raiders have the best tight end in the NFL on their team by some measures.
Brock Bowers is a rising superstar. You wouldn't have known it on Sunday as the Raiders opened Week 1 of the 2025 season against the New England Patriots.
Bowers was on the sideline more than he was on the field in the early going.
Out of the Raiders' first 19 snaps, Bowers played just eight of them.
No. 2 tight end Michael Mayer was out there for 10 snaps in the same span.
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Why isn't Brock Bowers playing every snap?
The Raiders could have a number of reasons for limiting Bowers' usage.
The main reasoning would have to do with blocking.
Mayer is regarded as a great blocker. Bowers is more of a pass catcher.
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The Raiders could be taking Bowers off the field on plays that are meant to look more like runs.
It's really weird, though.
Bowers is so dangerous as a pass catcher that you'd think Vegas would want that threat out there all the time.
But in Week 1, the Raiders were mixing it up. There will surely be questions asked about this after the game.
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