Las Vegas Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak said tight end Brock Bowers will undergo a pregame workout before Sunday’s matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium, keeping the door open for his return from knee surgery.
Ashton Jeanty of the Las Vegas Raiders walks off the field after his team beat the Miami Dolphins in Las Vegas last weekend. (Image: Christian Petersen/Getty Images)Bowers Remains Game-Time Question
It’s a long shot. Bowers, who underwent a meniscus trim on his left knee on Sept. 8, missed practice on Wednesday and Thursday before returning Friday in a limited capacity.
During his media availability Friday, Kubiak repeatedly stressed that the NFL season consists of “17 desperate games in a row.”
“We have this one game in front of our face, and we’re focused on that,” Kubiak said.
When asked about the Chargers—one of several teams, alongside the Dallas Cowboys and Denver Broncos, seeking to bounce back from a Week 1 upset to avoid an 0-2 start—Kubiak brushed off the narrative during his brief news conference.
Jeanty Ready to Roll
That same single-game focus applies to the Raiders, with reporters pressing Kubiak on potential overconfidence following a 27-13 home win over the Miami Dolphins.
“Hopefully [the players] are mature enough to know that one of 17 is nothing,” Kubiak said.
Running back Ashton Jeanty fully participated in practice Friday after dealing with an ankle injury that sidelined him prior to Week 1. Jeanty delivered a standout performance against Miami, rushing for 102 yards on 23 carries while adding six receptions for 45 yards and two touchdowns.
Offensive Line Excels
The Raiders’ revamped offensive line didn’t allow a single sack against Miami while opening running lanes for Jeanty. However, they face a significantly tougher test Sunday against Khalil Mack, Tuli Tuipulotu, and the Chargers’ pass rush.
On defense, Las Vegas generated five sacks in Week 1, led by Maxx Crosby and Kwity Paye—a promising matchup against a Chargers unit that struggled to protect Justin Herbert during a 26-14 loss to the Arizona Cardinals.
Circa Lands Major A’s Deal
The Las Vegas Athletics announced a multi-year partnership with Circa Resort & Casino and Circa Sports on Thursday. The MLB franchise is set to move from Oakland ahead of the 2028 season to a new $2 billion stadium on the Las Vegas Strip.
Circa was named the club’s first Founding Partner and an Official Resort and Sportsbook of the Las Vegas Athletics and Las Vegas Athletics Ballpark.
“Derek Stevens and the Circa team have been great partners to the A’s, supporting the Club in West Sacramento during our time there, and we’re excited to build on that relationship,” said Marc Badain, president of the Athletics. “As we look toward the opening of the A’s ballpark in Las Vegas, having Circa as our first Founding Partner is an important step in bringing our vision for a uniquely Las Vegas experience to life.”
A centerpiece of the deal is the Circa Dugout Box, a premium hospitality experience placing guests directly adjacent to the A’s dugout.
Golden Knights Open Preseason
The Vegas Golden Knights launch their NHL preseason tonight against the Los Angeles Kings at Toyota Arena in Ontario, California—home to the Kings’ AHL affiliate. Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles was unavailable due to UFC 331.
Vegas will lean heavily on younger players for the opening stretch of exhibition games, according to general manager Kelly McCrimmon.
Connelly Gets Early Opportunity
That strategy opens the door for Trevor Connelly, Vegas’ 2024 first-round pick. Connelly entered training camp skating on the club’s third line, and after the departure of several depth players this offseason, the 20-year-old left winger has a clear path to earn a roster spot.
Off the ice, the Golden Knights secured captain Mark Stone with a two-year extension worth $9 million annually.
On the bench, Ryan Craig makes his head coaching debut tonight for Las Vegas, replacing John Tortorella. The central question facing the Golden Knights this fall: Can a team that came within two wins of the Stanley Cup make another deep run while breaking in a new head coach and retooling the bottom of its roster?
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