Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers was ruled out for the remainder of Sunday’s game against the Seattle Seahawks after sustaining an ankle injury.
The injury occurred early in the first quarter when Bowers attempted to block Seahawks safety Nick Emmanwori.
As running back Ashton Jeanty cut in the opposite direction, Bowers had his legs rolled up in a pile and fell awkwardly, “Bowers remained down for a few moments while the team’s training staff helped him.”
Although he briefly returned to the field to support the debut of quarterback Fernando Mendoza, he was sidelined again late in the second quarter.
The team officially declared him out for the remainder of the contest just before the start of the second half, according to reports from Yahoo Sports.
Mendoza, the reigning Heisman Trophy winner making his first NFL start, reached the end zone during his opening possession, as detailed in coverage found at “Fernando Mendoza caps first NFL start with rushing touchdown.”
Bowers finished the game with two catches for 18 yards before his exit.
The tight end entered the matchup with 658 yards and six touchdowns on the season.
The Raiders, who currently hold a 4-5 record, are navigating a roster transition following the trade of quarterback Kirk Cousins at the deadline.
Further medical specifics regarding the severity of the ankle injury have not yet been released.
Losing a primary target like Bowers presents a significant challenge for the rookie Mendoza as he adjusts to professional competition, per the Yahoo Sports report.
The team is expected to provide updates on his status in the coming days as he undergoes further evaluation.