Las Vegas Raiders star tight end Brock Bowers is inactive Sunday at the Indianapolis Colts. Kickoff is set for 10 a.m. PT.
Bowers didn’t practice Thursday and Friday with a lingering knee injury, but Raiders coach Pete Carroll indicated Bowers was being rested and he expects him at the 3-1 Colts for the 1-3 Raiders. Yet, there were reports Saturday that state Bowers was trending toward not playing. Bowers was listed as questionable to play.
He has been dealing with a knee injury since the end of the season opener against the New England Patriots. He hasn’t missed a game, but his production has notably dipped over the last three weeks. He has 122 receiving yards in the past three games total. He didn’t have a three-game stretch with that few yards as a rookie. The injury is clearly hampering Bowers, who has been playing with a knee brace. He told reporters Friday the injury was affecting his game and it was frustrating.
ESPN reported Sunday morning that the second-year star has a PCL injury and doctors said the only way he will improve is if he rests. It also reported that the Raiders consider Bowers to be week-to-week .and he will be evaluated this week.
Meanwhile, backup tight end Michael Mayer (concussion) was ruled out on Saturday. Mayer was hurt earlier in Week 3 and hasn’t played since. He was limited in practice all week and thus could potentially play against Tennessee next week. Thus, the Raiders will be relegated to using third-string tight end Ian Thomas, undrafted rookie Carter Runyan and Albert Okwuegbunam, who was elevated from the practice squad for the game.
Starting cornerback Eric Stokes (knee) is also inactive. He was listed as questionable. Stokes was hurt Sunday against the Bears. He was limited all week. Rookie Darien Porter took Stokes’ place last week and will likely play a lot Sunday.
Friday afternoon, after practice, Carroll’s availability and the release of the injury report, the team announced linebacker Germaine Pratt will not travel to Indianapolis. No reason was given other than it’s not an injury issue.
The veteran has played 88 percent of the defensive snaps this season and has 25 tackles. Jamal Adams will likely get more snaps Sunday with Pratt out.
Here are the Raiders’ inactive players Sunday:
Rookie tackle Charles Grant is active with left tackle Kolton Miller on the injured reserve and rookie defensive tackle Tonka Hemingway is active after being inactive for several weeks.
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