The Raiders’ strongest position will be at full strength for the first time in two months against the Chiefs

No position on the Raiders was expected to be a bigger factor in their success this season than the tight end position. They made it a priority in the 2023 draft, a priority in 2024 free agency and their top priority in the 2024 draft. But the trio of tight ends they acquired have barely seen the field together this season.

On Friday they will take the field together in Kansas City for the first time in more than two months.

Brock Bowers was the team’s pick at 13 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft and had historic pace for a rookie tight end this season. Or really for any rookie or position. But he did it without one of the two tight ends that should make the position one of the most formidable in the league.

Last year’s draft tight end – who the Raiders traded for a second-round pick – Michael Mayer left the team after the team’s Week 3 loss to the Carolina Panthers and was placed on the non-football medical list .

When Mayer returned in Week 11 after the team’s bye week, Harrison Bryant was out due to injury. After four seasons in Cleveland, Bryant was one of the team’s priority free agent additions this offseason.

On Thursday, Bryant was removed from the Raiders’ injury report, making him available to play for the first time since his injury in Week 9 in Cincinnati. And that makes this tight end trio available for the first time since September 22nd.

No time like the present as they take on the rival Chiefs and their future Hall of Fame tight end Travis Kelce.