Key Week 1 NFL Injuries Bettors Need to Know
- Raiders TE Brock Bowers
- Chiefs LT Josh Simmons
- Falcons QB Tua Tagovailoa
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Brock Bowers Injury: Take Michael Mayer Over Receptions
Brock Bowers' absence against the Miami Dolphins turns Michael Mayer from a complementary tight end into the primary option in Las Vegas' passing game.
Coach Klint Kubiak confirmed Bowers will sit after a meniscus procedure, leaving Mayer as the clear TE1 for Kirk Cousins.
When Mayer has been featured, he has produced at a starter's volume.
He logged a 78.4% route participation rate, a 23.7% target share, a 26% target rate per route, 4.5 receptions per game, 49.0 receiving yards per game, 2.25 yards per route run, and 1 receiving touchdown without Bowers last year.
The matchup helps.
Miami allowed 108 receptions to opposing tight ends in 2025, the second-most in the NFL.
Cousins' history reinforces the opportunity.
Last season in Atlanta, he targeted Kyle Pitts 65 times, 18 more than any other teammate.
Mayer is not Pitts, but he is the closest thing Las Vegas has to a high-volume, high-trust tight end this week.
In Kubiak's scheme, two-tight-end looks and play-action concepts still exist, yet the absence of Bowers funnels more of the passing-game volume onto one player.
Mayer should see more snaps, more routes from the slot and inline, and more designed looks on early downs.
The Dolphins' leakiness against the position and Cousins' documented tight-end usage create a Week 1 environment in which Mayer can exceed expectations.
Josh Simmons Injury: Take Kenneth Walker Under Rushing Yards
Josh Simmons' potential absence could spell trouble for new running back Kenneth Walker.
Andy Reid has already signaled there is “a good chance” the second-year left tackle sits because of a lingering back injury that has kept him out of practice since mid-August.
If that happens, undrafted rookie Kahlil Benson is expected to protect Patrick Mahomes' blind side.
However, the drop-off would be felt immediately in the running game.
Last season, the Chiefs averaged 4.7 yards per carry when Simmons was on the field and just 3.8 yards per carry when he was not.
Without him, the left side of the line becomes a weak link against a Broncos front that can attack the edge against the run.
Denver's defense finished third in the NFL last year in rush defense, holding opposing ball carriers to just 3.9 yards per carry.
The 3.8 yards-per-carry team mark without Simmons last year already suggested the offense became more one-dimensional.
Kansas City still has interior strength and a creative play-caller.
However, if Simmons is inactive Monday night, the Chiefs' run game will start the season fighting uphill.
Tua Tagovailoa Injury: Take Drake London Over Receiving Yards
Cooper Rush is starting at quarterback for the injured Tagovailoa this week, and while it's certainly not ideal to be down to a third-string quarterback in Week 1, it's not like the hopes for the Falcons offense were sky-high to begin with.
The market might have overreacted to the drop from Tagovailoa to Rush, dropping Drake London's lines by a dozen yards across most books.
When Rush has had success in the NFL, he has relied heavily on his top receiver.
In his 13 career starts with the Cowboys, Rush targeted CeeDee Lamb 125 times, and the duo averaged 79 yards per game together.
Maybe the Falcons' best way to stay in the game is to feed Bijan Robinson and try to stay conservative with their rushing attack, but new head coach Kevin Stefanski has never been shy about throwing the ball, especially when his team falls behind.
If this game gets out of hand and the Falcons are forced to throw more than they are currently planning, that will point to Rush trying to get the ball to London, his best receiver.
It might feel like a lot of maybes and ifs, but Rush also made sure to keep Zay Flowers involved heavily in his short time with the Ravens last year, targeting him 15 times in two starts.
Rush likes to keep his top receiver involved in the game.
Even though London is a different type of receiver than the guys Rush has worked with before, his standing at the top of the depth chart will lead to a heavy target share, even in a tough matchup against Joey Porter Jr. and the Steelers defense.