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Las Vegas Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak.
The Las Vegas Raiders played a tough and physical game against the New Orleans Saints in Week 3, which led to some injuries. Starting right guard Jackson Powers-Johnson had to leave the game early with a groin injury.
The young guard has an injury history, so it’s always a concern when he has to leave a game early. Fortunately, the Raiders seem to have dodged a bullet. According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, Powers-Johnson’s injury is “not considered serious.”
While the injury isn’t serious, that doesn’t mean he won’t miss time. It’s unclear what his timeline might be, but a stint on Injured Reserve seems unlikely.
This is not good timing for Powers-Johnson. He narrowly beat out Caleb Rogers for the starting right guard spot. If Powers-Johnson has to sit out a game and Rogers starts, he could keep the job if he plays well.
It’s been a rough start to his career for Powers-Johnson, but he finally seems to be hitting his stride this year. He will do everything to get back on the field as soon as possible.
Jack Bech Broke His Arm
Unfortunately, it’s not all good news for the Raiders. Wide receiver Jack Bech had to leave the game early, and it was quickly revealed that he had broken his forearm.
Head coach Klint Kubiak confirmed the news after the game, and Bech will be sent to Injured Reserve. His injury isn’t considered season-ending, but it’s hard to imagine him returning after four games. Bech is starting to make more plays, so this timing is not good for him. He needs to come back with a vengeance later in the season.
Brock Bowers Can’t Stop Returning From Injury
Although the Raiders lost several players in the Saints game, they finally got Brock Bowers back. He had to have surgery before the season, which kept him out of the first two games. Bowers explained what happened.
“I thought it was kind of out of the question,” Bowers said. “I thought it would be gone at the beginning of the season. But no, I just had to finish it before the long stretch of the season. I’m glad to be back.”
It was Kubiak’s first game coaching Bowers, but he wasn’t surprised by the 10-catch, 116-yard performance.
“Brock is always someone we look up to, but to overcome an injury and play the way he did is very, very impressive,” Kubiak said after the game. “And we need it. We’re not surprised by that with Brock.”
Kirk Cousins knew Bowers was a good player, but he didn’t realize he was that good.
“I had it with (Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson), where early on you don’t realize how good of a player he is,” Cousins said. “And then you play with him longer, and you start to realize, ‘Oh, practice hasn’t really shown how good he is,’ and I think the games with Brock are going to be important for us to continue to build that relationship.”
Austin Boyd has covered the Las Vegas Raiders and Los Angeles Lakers for Heavy.com since 2019. A Los Angeles native now based in Las Vegas, his featured work at Heavy includes interviews with NFL stars Darren Waller and Joe Montana, and a behind-the-scenes look at “The Shop.” More about Austin Boyd