Raiders share official Brock Bowers ankle injury update

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Fernando Mendoza’s day just got a lot tougher. The Raiders ruled Brock Bowers out for the rest of Sunday’s game against the Seattle Seahawks with an ankle injury he suffered on the opening se…

The Raiders ruled Brock Bowers out for the rest of Sunday’s game against the Seattle Seahawks with an ankle injury he suffered on the opening series, leaving Mendoza to finish his first NFL start without his best offensive weapon.

Bowers walked to the blue medical tent on the Raiders’ sideline without assistance, although he was in obvious pain.

The tight end returned to the game briefly before heading to the locker room. The Raiders initially listed him as questionable to return before ruling him out.

That puts a lot on Mendoza, who took over as the starter after the Raiders traded Kirk Cousins to the Minnesota Vikings this week.

When a rookie quarterback needs a completion, it helps to have someone who can turn a short throw into a big gain. Bowers gives Mendoza that option even when the defense knows where the ball is going.

Mendoza did a good job of getting his other receivers involved in the first half, completing 11 of 13 passes for 90 yards to eight different targets. He also got the Raiders into the end zone himself on the opening drive, scoring on a 10-yard quarterback draw on third-and-goal.

What he could use now is some help from the running game. Ashton Jeanty managed just 15 yards on eight first-half carries. With Bowers out, that leaves two ways for Seattle to make Mendoza’s job harder.

Fellow tight end Michael Mayer will likely play a bigger role in the second half.

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