Raiders prepare for Dolphins matchup without injured tight end Brock Bowers

The Las Vegas Raiders face the Miami Dolphins this Sunday to open the regular season under new head coach Klint Kubiak. The team will be without tight end Brock Bowers, who sustained a meniscus injury on Tuesday that required surgery. Michael Mayer is expected to assume the primary role at tight end, with Ian Thomas and Connor Heyward filling out the depth chart in his absence. While the team looks for other pass-catchers like Tre Tucker to take on increased targets, observers are focused on how the offense adjusts its personnel packages. This Week 1 game serves as a test for the revamped roster following a long offseason. The coaching staff may utilize Heyward in multiple alignments to compensate for the specific skill set missing from the lineup.

• 5:08 PMYahoo Sports — Raiders Mailbag: Who needs to step up against Dolphins with Brock Bowers out?