Raiders TE Brock Bowers sets rookie receptions mark

Las Vegas tight end Brock Bowers caught four passes in the Raiders’ regular-season finale on Sunday, nudging him past New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers for the NFL’s single-season rookie reception record.

Nabers briefly owned the record after making five grabs in the Giants’ 20-13 loss at Philadelphia early Sunday afternoon to leave him with 109 on the season.

A few hours later, Bowers shook off a slow start and hauled in all four of his receptions during the second half of the Raiders’ 34-20 home loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. His 110th catch came on a 21-yard connection with Aidan O’Connell in the third quarter.

Bowers finished the season with 112 receptions, the third-most by a tight end in NFL history. Zach Ertz holds the single-season record with his 116-catch campaign with Philadelphia in 2018.

Drafted 13th overall out of Georgia, Bowers became an immediate weapon for Las Vegas and wound up orchestrating the most productive debut season by a tight end in league history. He set the receiving yards record for rookie tight ends, surpassing the 1,076 yard total set by Pro Football Hall of Famer Mike Ditka with Chicago in 1961.

Bowers ended up with 1,194 receiving yards this season, tied for eighth-most in the NFL. He also caught five touchdowns for a Raiders team that finished 4-13 and missed the playoffs for the third straight year.

Nabers concluded his first campaign with 1,204 yards, just ahead of Bowers for seventh in the league, and seven touchdowns. The sixth overall pick out of LSU was a bright spot during an otherwise dreary centennial season for New York, which lost a franchise-record 14 games, including 10 straight losses at one point, also a franchise worst.

His fourth catch on Sunday gave him 108 on the year and moved him past Steve Smith (2009) for the Giants’ single-season reception record.

–Field Level Media