Las Vegas Raiders coach Chip Kelly’s wife shares a concern familiar to many fantasy football managers: the health and availability of the team’s star pass-catchers. The first-year offensive coordinator recently revealed that his wife, Jill Kelly, has been asking him when Brock Bowers and Jakobi Meyers will return from their injury absences.
Kelly was reminded of this personal inquiry when reporters posed questions about Bowers and Meyers ahead of Week 9. In response, the 61-year-old offered the same vague answer he had given to his wife:
“My wife says, ‘Are you gonna get all these guys back?’ And I said if it’s 1 p.m. and they’re standing next to Pete when we’re kicking the ball off, then I’m like, ‘Yeah, let’s go.’”
Ironically, both players have been participating fully in practice all week and are not listed on the Raiders’ Week 9 injury report.
### Injury Updates and Player Status
Brock Bowers has been sidelined since Week 4, when the Raiders faced the Chicago Bears. The star tight end has been dealing with multiple leg injuries throughout the season, which he acknowledged would prevent him from being at 100 percent all year.
Jakobi Meyers is set to return after missing just one game due to a knee injury. The veteran wide receiver leads the team with 43 targets so far this season.
### Raiders Look to Boost Passing Offense in Week 9
While Bowers and Meyers are the Raiders’ two most notable pass-catchers, both have yet to live up to expectations in 2025. Interestingly, third-year receiver Tre Tucker has emerged as the team’s leading receiver, topping the charts with 389 yards through eight games.
The Raiders’ passing game has struggled this season under quarterback Geno Smith. The veteran signal-caller is averaging just over 200 passing yards per game and entered Week 9 tied with Tua Tagovailoa for the league lead in interceptions, with 10 thrown so far.
Despite the stats, the return of Bowers and Meyers is expected to provide a significant boost to the offense. Both players will have the opportunity to capitalize against a Jacksonville Jaguars defense that ranks sixth-worst in the league, allowing the sixth-most passing yards per game.
### Jaguars’ Injury Concerns Could Impact Defense
The Jaguars may be further weakened for Week 9 due to several nagging injuries. Star cornerback Jourdan Lewis and linebacker Devin Lloyd top the team’s injury report, which also includes key players Travis Hunter, Dennis Gardeck, and Eric Murray.
With Bowers and Meyers back in the lineup and facing a potentially compromised Jacksonville defense, the Raiders will look to improve their passing attack as they head into Week 9.
https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/las-vegas-raiders/raiders-news-chip-kelly-wife-asked-brock-bowers-jakobi-meyers-injuries
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