The Jacksonville Jaguars look to maintain a winning record on Sunday when they travel to take on the Las Vegas Raiders. At 4-3, they’ll have to do so without the services of WR/CB/WR-some-CB-maybe Travis Hunter. However, the Raiders will actually be gaining their top weapon on offense.
Raiders’ head coach Pete Carroll says that tight end Brock Bowers is “ready to roll” and will return to the field after missing three straight games with a knee injury.
“He’s back,” Carroll said. “Last week, he looked good every day, particularly good on the Monday practice. And he kind of stole the show a little bit. So, we’re thrilled to have him back.”
Jaguars’ head coach Liam Coen is all too familiar with what Bowers brings to the table, but let’s be honest, so is the rest of the NFL and anyone who has played fantasy football in recent memory.
“I had a lot of experience with him in the SEC at Kentucky,” Coen said . “Played against him multiple times, thought he was extremely advanced at that time. For a second-year player, he gets in and out breaks so well. I know he was like 40 something inch vertical coming out of high school. He is a very good athlete. He’s what you define as a football player, I mean, he just has a knack for getting open.
“He’s harder to tackle than maybe just looking at the tape. He’ll break tackles, drag people down, he knows how to wiggle and separate and also the contested catch ability. Very good player, have a lot of respect for him.”
Jacksonville Jaguars’ defensive coordinator raves about Brock Bowers
Technically, Bowers is defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile’s problem. When healthy, he’s the best tight end in the NFL and can be the difference between the Raiders having an offense and not having one.
“He’s an elite-level player,” Campanile said. “He’s really, really explosive, obviously for a guy at that position. But I think his acceleration after the catch is really impressive. So, just top to bottom as a player, as a tight end, he really gives them a lot of—honestly, he’s got a lot of skills that some guys at that position don’t have. I think he’s an elite-level player.”
While he’s been slowed by injuries this year, his numbers from his rookie year in 2024 tell you what type of player he’s capable of being. Bowers caught 112 passes for 1,194 yards and five touchdowns. He could mean the difference between whether or not Geno Smith keeps his job.
Jaguars players are aware of the challenge that Brock Bowers presents
It’s interesting to hear a cornerback comment on playing against an opposing team’s tight end, but that’s the NFL world that we live in now, especially with a guy like Bowers.
“A guy like that is just super physical but can run routes at a very elite level,” said Jaguars’ cornerback Greg Newsome II. “It’ll be a fun game. As a competitor, these are the games that we want.”
Defensive end Josh Hines-Allen took a different route, and heavily understated just how good Bowers is.
“I think arguably one of the best young tight ends in the league right now,” he said.
He’s probably the best tight end in the entire league regardless of age or experience. Travis Kelce hasn’t been elite for a couple of years now and there aren’t really another other tight ends that compare to Bowers.
“He can do a lot of things,” said cornerbak Jordan Lewis, another guy who will probably be chasing Bowers around on Sunday. “He’s fast, physical. … He can make things happen with the ball in his hands. He can line up at number one receiver to number three. He’s definitely a really good player.”
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