Raiders’ Michael Mayer Draws Strong Words After Brock Bowers Injury
The Las Vegas Raiders opened Week 1 with a win over the New England Patriots. However, Brock Bowers suffered a knee injury after a strong performance. As a result, his Week 2 status is uncertain.
Las Vegas are eager to have Bowers available for their home opener, but they won’t take chances if he isn’t fully recovered. If Bowers is sidelined, that could allow Michael Mayer to step in and make his mark as he impressed in Week 1 despite limited touches.
Moreover, the Raiders’ offensive coordinator, Chip Kelly, offered significant praise while speaking to the media on September 12. As a result, if there’s no Bowers for the Silver and Black, Kelly is ready to count on Mayer.
“I’ve been a huge Mike fan since I got here, and Pete [Carroll is] right,” Kelly said. “Not many people have the luxury of two talented players like that. “I’ll throw Ian in there too—he played 20 snaps himself.
“That depth gets tested. We lost Brock for a bit at the end of the third and into the fourth, and I thought Mike did an outstanding job—catching the ball underneath, gaining yards after the catch, and blocking at the point of attack really well.”
While Mayer’s role was enough against the Patriots, Kelly and the rest of the offense might need more from the 24-year-old against the Los Angeles Chargers.
What’s the latest on the Raiders’ Brock Bowers
The Raiders benefit from an extra day of preparation, which could give Bowers the time he needs to recover. His status is worth monitoring closely, as losing their top offensive weapon would be a
Las Vegas have an extra day to get ready, which could be just what Bowers needs to recover. This is definitely a situation to keep an eye on. As the team’s top offensive player, his absence would be a significant setback.
“I’m not sure. We’ll see how it’s feeling throughout the week, but I’m hoping to play,” Bowers said when asked about the injury on September 11, per ESPN.
Moreover,
Chargers Star Eager to Face Brock Bowers
It’s still unclear if Bowers will be cleared to face Los Angeles, but at least one opponent hopes he’s on the field. Chargers safety Derwin James said he wants Bowers to suit up for their Week 2 matchup, saying he’ll be ready to face the Raiders’ standout tight end.
“Man, one of the best tight ends in the league,” James told reporters on September 12 (h/t Fernando Ramirez of The Sporting Tribune). “Probably the best tight end in this league now, I could say that
“I can’t wait for that matchup. I look forward to it, man. Like I said, he’s a great young player. Seeing him at the Pro Bowl—he was on the AFC team—but man, I’m excited to go against him. It’s going to be a lot of fun.”
Ben Johnson Should Be Livid About These Bears-Lions Predictions
Last week was the start of the NFL season, and it’s a special filled with promise, especially for the Chicago Bears, who have a new head coach in Ben Johnson, who hails from the Detroit Lions. But, things didn’t quite go as planned for the Bears’ first game of the season. It looked as if they were on target to enjoy a fantastic win over the Minnesota Vikings on Monday, September 8, but the Vikings made a really surprising comeback and were able to pull ahead for the win.
It was a heartbreaker, and the game was at Soldier Field in Chicago, so it was in front of plenty of hometown peeps. But, it’s just the first game of the season, and there are plenty more opportunities for the Bears to come back from that loss. One of those opportunities is just ahead.
The Bears will take on the Detroit Lions on Sunday, September 14, at Ford Field. While the team fell to the Lions last season, twice, this year, quarterback Caleb Williams is already looking much better on the field, and the Bears, of course, have Johnson heading up their roster. Now, the NFL predictions are in for who will win this game.
Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions Game Predictions
The Lions lost their first game of the season to the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, September 7, so they’re angry and ready to win a matchup. But, that doesn’t mean they will win. The Bears are tough competition.
In a Thursday, September 11, feature for the NFL’s website, Ali Bhanpuri, Tom Blair, Brooke Cersosimo and Dan Parr break down the Week 2 matchups and who they think will win.
For the Bears vs. Lions, they go with the Lions. They sound pretty sure about it, too.
“I know Detroit is also reeling following its miserable Week 1 at Lambeau, but I’ve seen Dan Campbell rally his crew after an L before,” Bhanpuri states in the piece. “In fact, per NFL Research, the Lions are the only team that hasn’t lost back-to-back regular-season games since 2023 and are 11-4 after a loss since 2022 (fourth-best). The wins will come for this Bears team — just maybe not this weekend.”
In ESPN’s similar piece with Week 2 predictions, Eric Woodyard notes, “The return Johnson to Detroit has been the topic of discussion all week. But Detroit is also looking to avoid going 0-2 for the first time since 2021 — Dan Campbell’s first season. In Johnson’s three years as Lions OC, he developed close ties to many of the current players, but those friendships will be put aside.”
Dan Campbell on Bears Game: ‘We’re Going to Win This Game’
Campbell, of course, was asked about the matchup against the Chicago Bears during a conference on Monday, September 8. “It’s the same thing. He knows what we’re about, we know what he’s about and because of that, you’re going to play that game a little bit,” Campbell said regarding Johnson in the conference.
He added, “We’re going in and getting ready to play Chicago. We’re going to win this game. We have to. We have to find a way to clean things up and do what we got to do. And they’re going to try to do the same thing, just like every week.”
So, both teams are out for the win. Either way, it should be a great game to watch on Sunday.
