Raiders report: Star TE out Sunday, but Pro Bowl punter could play

Las Vegas Review-Journal

4 days ago

Raiders tight end Brock Bowers (89) looks in a pass during Raiders OTA practice at the Intermou ... — Raiders tight end Brock Bowers (89) looks in a pass during Raiders OTA practice at the Intermountain Health Performance Center on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, in Henderson. (L.E. Baskow/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @Left_Eye_Images

Raiders head coach Pete Carroll takes questions from the media during a news conference at the Intermountain Health Performance Center on Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025 in Henderson. (Heidi Fang/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @HeidiFang

Raiders tight end Brock Bowers (89) stretches during training camp at the Intermountain Health Performance Center on Wednesday, Aug 13, 2025, in Henderson. (Bizuayehu Tesfaye/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @bizutesfaye

Raiders tight end Brock Bowers (89) celebrates a big catch during the first half of an NFL preseason game San Francisco 49ers at Allegiant Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 16, 2025 in Las Vegas. (Heidi Fang/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @HeidiFang

Raiders tight end Brock Bowers (89) celebrates a catch during the first half of an NFL preseason game against the San Francisco 49ers at Allegiant Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 16, 2025 in Las Vegas. (Heidi Fang/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @HeidiFang

Raiders tight end Brock Bowers (89) listens quarterbacks coach Greg Olson to during practice at the Intermountain Health Performance Center on Friday, Sept. 5, 2025, in Henderson. (Bizuayehu Tesfaye/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @bizutesfaye

Raiders tight end Brock Bowers is not expected to play Sunday against the Titans at Allegiant Stadium, coach Pete Carroll said Friday.

Bowers also missed last week’s game against the Colts because of a left knee injury he suffered in the team’s season opener against the Patriots. The 22-year-old played through the ailment for three weeks but didn’t look like the dominant force that earned first-team All-Pro honors as a rookie.

Bowers, the No. 13 overall pick in the 2024 draft, has not practiced in two weeks. He has 19 catches for 225 yards this season. He set rookie records for receptions (112) and receiving yards by a tight end (1,194) last year.

“We’re not quite there yet, and we got to make sure we’re taking care of him and all that,” Carroll said. “And so, we’re working hard to do that and that’s what we’re trying to ensure that once he’s back, he stays back and he’s good and there’s no setbacks.”

Cole expected to play

Raiders punter AJ Cole, after suffering a right ankle sprain in his kicking leg last week against the Colts, punted Friday to see if he could play against the Titans.

All signs point to the three-time Pro Bowler suiting up.

“It was really good,” Carroll said. “A really encouraging day.”

Cole is surprised by the progress he has made. He was not confident he would recover this fast based on how he was feeling after the game in Indianapolis, when he was hurt on a blocked punt.

He credited the Raiders training staff, including Alex Guerrero and Chris Cortez, for getting him on the right track.

“All the guys in there, putting together a really good plan,” Cole said. “I was in a walking boot on Monday and they told me I was going to punt on Friday and I was like, ‘I don’t know how it’s going to work, but I’ll believe it.’ ”

Cole is averaging 51.2 yards per punt this season, the fifth-most in the NFL. The Raiders gave him a four-year, $15.8 million extension in May that made him the highest-paid punter in the league.

Porter set to start

Raiders cornerback Eric Stokes is expected to return to the starting lineup Sunday after sitting out the Colts game with a knee injury.

Despite that, rookie third-round pick Darien Porter could be in line for his second straight start. Cornerback Kyu Blu Kelly has struggled the past two games, which has given Porter an opening.

Contact Vincent Bonsignore at vbonsignore@reviewjournal.com. Follow @VinnyBonsignore on X.