The Las Vegas Raiders are still dealing with a tight end crisis after a disastrous 40-6 loss to the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday.
Both of their top options at the position, Brock Bowers and Michael Mayer, remain sidelined with injuries, forcing head coach Pete Carroll to elevate Albert Okwuegbunam from the practice squad and make do with a thin group heading into Week 6.
Bowers, who has been nursing a knee injury since the season opener, was once again unable to take the field in Week 5. Carroll offered an update after the loss, confirming that the star tight end is still day-to-day and has not responded as expected to treatment, as posted on Twitter by Ryan McFadden.
“He hoped the extra days of rest would’ve helped, but it didn’t,” Carroll said, via Ryan McFadden. “As it got down to Saturday, he couldn’t get right.”
Before Sunday’s matchup, NFL insiders Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero reported that Bowers was unlikely to suit up, and Carroll’s postgame comments confirmed those fears.
The head coach had remained optimistic throughout the week, but the 22-year-old tight end never showed enough progress in practice to be cleared. Michael Mayer, meanwhile, missed the game due to a concussion suffered in Week 4, further depleting the Raiders’ offensive weapons.
Okwuegbunam stepped up in their absence, catching five passes for 36 yards, while rookie Carter Runyon also saw expanded snaps. However, the Raiders’ offense struggled badly, failing to find the end zone for the second time this season.
Quarterback Geno Smith completed 22-of-32 passes for 228 yards but threw two interceptions, bringing his total to nine on the year.
After the loss, Carroll called for unity and patience, reminding his players that growth often comes from struggle. “We have to keep believing and proving it,” he told reporters.
“The young guys who got a chance to play today will be better for it in the long run, but we need to get our guys back out there too. We’ll start all over again.”
The 40–6 blowout dropped Las Vegas to 1–4 on the season, marking their fourth consecutive loss. Their once-promising offense has sputtered without Bowers’ presence in the middle of the field, and the defense has been unable to contain opponents, giving up six straight touchdown drives to the Colts.
The Raiders now turn their attention to Week 6, where they’ll face the Tennessee Titans on the road. With Bowers’ knee not improving and Mayer still in concussion protocol, Carroll and his team will have to find a way to compete without two of their most dynamic young players.
