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NFL Week 4 buzz: QB panic meter and trade intel, plus what we're hearing on the 3-0 Raiders
Confirmed
In Short: The Las Vegas Raiders will be without Pro Bowl tight end Brock Bowers for their season opener against the Miami Dolphins.
The Las Vegas Raiders will be without Pro Bowl tight end Brock Bowers for their season opener against the Miami Dolphins on Sunday after Bowers underwent a meniscus trim surgery.
Sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter and NFL Network's Ian Rapoport that Bowers is expected to miss one to two games.
First-year Raiders coach Klint Kubiak initially expected Bowers to be available for the season opener, but the tight end's absence was confirmed after the surgery.
In the meantime, the Raiders will rely on tight end Michael Mayer to help the passing game.
The Raiders' revamped offense, adopting the Seattle Seahawks scheme under Kubiak, aims to maintain optimism despite Bowers' absence.
The Raiders' 3-0 start last season has raised questions about whether the league is buying into their strong performance.
Insiders Jeremy Fowler and Dan Graziano from ESPN are monitoring quarterback situations, with Drake Maye, Cam Ward, and Justin Herbert garnering varying degrees of panic.
Fowler noted that Maye's situation is the most concerning, with panic evident in head coach Mike Vrabel's voice.
The NFL trading season has begun, with the Raiders' quarterback situation potentially up for discussion.
However, before any trade talks progressed further, NFL Network reported that quarterback Josh Crosby made it clear he did not want to be traded.
The Raiders' next game will be against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 2.
What this adds
The Raiders' optimism about Bowers returning soon contrasts with the initial expectation of his availability for the season opener.
The Raiders' 3-0 start last season adds context to the current expectations for their performance this year.
What's confirmed
- The Las Vegas Raiders will be without Pro Bowl tight end Brock Bowers for their season opener against the Miami Dolphins on Sunday after Bowers underwent a meniscus trim surgery.
- Sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter and NFL Network's Ian Rapoport that Bowers is expected to miss one to two games.
- First-year Raiders coach Klint Kubiak initially expected Bowers to be available for the season opener, but the tight end's absence was confirmed after the surgery.
- In the meantime, the Raiders will rely on tight end Michael Mayer to help the passing game.
- The Raiders' revamped offense, adopting the Seattle Seahawks scheme under Kubiak, aims to maintain optimism despite Bowers' absence.
- The Raiders' 3-0 start last season has raised questions about whether the league is buying into their strong performance.
- Insiders Jeremy Fowler and Dan Graziano from ESPN are monitoring quarterback situations, with Drake Maye, Cam Ward, and Justin Herbert garnering varying degrees of panic.
- Fowler noted that Maye's situation is the most concerning, with panic evident in head coach Mike Vrabel's voice.
- The NFL trading season has begun, with the Raiders' quarterback situation potentially up for discussion.
- However, before any trade talks progressed further, NFL Network reported that quarterback Josh Crosby made it clear he did not want to be traded.
- The Raiders' next game will be against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 2.
What's still developing
- Jump to: QB panic meter | QB trades Raiders' start | Injury impact Fantasy football advice More notes, intel Fowler: Three come to mind here -- Drake Maye, Cam Ward and Justin Herbert.
- So, I'm leaving the door open for Maye to fix it, but the panic can be found in Vrabel's voice right now.
- Dan and Jeremy asked around the league to get a sense of which QBs land on the early-season panic meter.
- McCarthy kicked off trading season Monday in going to the Giants, our insiders poked around on more QB trades that could be on deck.
- More news: Exclusive: Breakout NFL Executives Who Could Become Future General Managers More news: 4 QBs Generating Serious Trade Buzz Weeks Before NFL Regular Season Starts "After undergoing a meniscus trim Tuesday, the Raiders believe there’s a realistic chance Brock Bowers will miss only one game and return for Week 2 at the Los Angeles Chargers, per sources," Schefter posted on X.
- For more on the Raiders and the NFL, head to Newsweek Sports.
- Asked specifically about whether Brock would be available, he said: "We're expecting to have all of our guys ready for Sunday." Bowers has been dealing with knee issues since last season.
- He played three games while dealing with a posterior cruciate ligament injury and a bone bruise in his left knee that he suffered in the Raiders' season-opening win over the New England Patriots.
- While that was the end of the trade discussions with the Ravens, the Los Angeles Rams briefly discussed acquiring Crosby after the blockbuster fell through, according to NFL Network.
- He wanted to remain with the Raiders and told the organization as such.
- While the Raiders expect Bowers to be out for a short amount of time, it could still be alarming for fantasy owners, as he could end up missing more time or could see a decrease in playing time.
- According to an ESPN report, the former Las Vegas Raiders star pleaded no contest to his misdemeanor charges of battery and criminal damage to property.