Raiders star sits out practice with injury, but hopes to play Monday

Raiders tight end Brock Bowers’ status for Monday’s game against the Chargers remains unclear due to a knee injury he suffered in the team’s season-opening win over the Patriots.

Bowers said before Thursday’s practice he was “not sure” whether he’d be able to play Monday. He and linebacker Elandon Roberts (elbow) did not practice Thursday.

“We’ll see how it’s feeling throughout the week, but I’m hoping to play,” Bowers said.

Bowers, 22, took a hit to his knee in the third quarter Sunday. He limped through the next play before heading to the sideline.

The No. 13 overall pick in the 2024 draft did not return to the game, though he did run on the sideline under the supervision of the training staff.

“It’s feeling a little better. Just working on it, trying to get it right. We’ll see how we’re feeling,” Bowers said. “I’ve dealt with certain stuff kind of like this, but I’ve never done the exact same thing. Same sort of stuff, though.”

Bowers had five catches for 103 yards against the Patriots before exiting.

Roberts, 31, was injured in the first quarter against the Patriots. Coach Pete Carroll said before Thursday’s practice both Bowers and Roberts are trying to get ready for Monday’s game.

“(Roberts is) not looking at this game like he can’t play, just like Brock. They’re not looking at it like that at all,” Carroll said. “They think they’re playing. So, we’ll see what happens. They have to make it through the week and practice, but in the walkthroughs and that already, they look fine.”

Carroll said he “would expect” Bowers and Roberts would practice by the end of the week. They were the only players on the Raiders’ first injury report Thursday.

Contact Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com. Follow @AdamHillLVRJ on X.