The Raiders Are Already Down Brock Bowers for the Season Opener

The Las Vegas Raiders haven't even played a meaningful snap yet, and they are already taking on water.

Ian Rapoport went on NFL GameDay Kickoff and delivered the kind of update that makes fans stare blankly at a wall. Tight end Brock Bowers is officially out for the season opener with a knee injury.

"Ian Rapoport noted Bowers is out for the opener 'at least.'"

The real kicker is the phrase Rapoport tacked onto the end of his report: at least. That is the medical update equivalent of a check engine light that you know is going to cost you a fortune.

Las Vegas invested heavily in Bowers to be a matchup nightmare, the kind of athletic freak who can bail out a quarterback under pressure. Instead, their shiny new offensive weapon is starting the year in sweatpants.

For anyone who already locked in Bowers for Week 1 receiving props, it is time to pivot. The Raiders' target share is going to have to funnel elsewhere, which means the offensive game plan is getting a frantic rewrite before the first whistle.

Now the watch begins to see exactly how much time he misses. If this knee issue drags into the fall, the Raiders are going to have to find a new way to move the chains in a division that does not forgive slow starts.