Sunday’s contest between the Las Vegas Raiders and Kansas City Chiefs featured arguably the greatest tight end ever in Travis Kelce, and perhaps the best young player at the position today in rookie Brock Bowers.
With the Raiders offense struggling, Bowers has turned into the team’s best and most reliable weapon with 52 receptions for 535 yards and a touchdown so far this season. Against the Chiefs, Bowers was held to just five catches for 58 yards, while Kelce turned in his best performance of the season with 10 catches for 90 yards and his first touchdown of the year.
Across the league, tight ends are a very close-knit group, so it should be no surprise that Kelce has taken notice of what Bowers has done so far this year. Following the Raiders’ defeat at the hands of the Chiefs, Kelce took a moment to praise Bowers on the field and tell him to keep doing what he’s been doing via NFL on X:
“Happy as hell for you. Keep doing your thing. I’m gonna shoot my jersey to your locker.”
Awesome moment between tight ends as Travis Kelce asks Brock Bowers for his jersey and a picture 🤝#NationalTightEndsDay @tkelce @brockbowers17 pic.twitter.com/2qjITTJ0jq
— NFL (@NFL) October 28, 2024
Bowers isn’t just having an excellent year for a rookie, he has been an absolute beast for the Raiders so far and leads all tight ends in targets, receptions and receiving yards so far this season. There was a question as to why the Raiders would draft a tight end in this draft, but Bowers is already proving himself to be a cornerstone of this team.
Kelce understands what it means to dominate at the position as the three-time Super Bowl Champion ranks in the top 5 all-time in receptions, yards, and touchdowns for a tight end despite playing in far fewer games than the likes of Tony Gonzalez and Antonio Gates, who rank ahead of him. But the Chiefs star clearly sees greatness in Bowers and wants the Raiders rookie to continue to grow and reach his vast potential.
Raiders Rookie Brock Bowers Makes NFL History
Brock Bowers is already making history just a few games into his NFL career, as he has been carrying the Raiders offense all season long, regardless of who is at quarterback.
In the Raiders’ previous game against the Los Angeles Rams, Bowers totaled 10 receptions for 93 yards and, along the way, surpassed Keith Jackson for the most receptions by any tight end in NFL history through their first seven career games.
