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The Las Vegas Raiders have three more games left on their 2024 schedule before a dreadful season comes to an end, with the first of those three taking place against Jacksonville in Week 16.
While neither team has anything to play for other than draft positioning, we could see some history made on Sunday, as Raiders star tight end Brock Bowers is on the cusp of breaking yet another rookie record.
Bowers is in the midst of a historic rookie campaign with the Raiders and has been one of the team’s few bright spots this season. He enters Week 16 with 90 receptions, 968 yards and four touchdowns.
The Georgia product, who was taken with the No. 13 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, has already broken the single-season record for most receptions by a rookie tight end, passing Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta’s mark of 86.
Now, Bowers has his sights set on the all-time rookie tight end record for most receiving yards, which is held by Chicago Bears legend Mike Ditka, who tallied 1,076 in 1961.
All Bowers needs is 109 more to break the record, a mark he could hit on Sunday.
All-time rookie TE receiving yards leaders
| Rank | Player | Year | Total |
| 1 | Mike Ditka, Bears | 1961 | 1,076 |
| 2 | Kyle Pitts, Falcons | 2021 | 1,026 |
| 3 | Brock Bowers, Raiders | 2024 | 968 |
| 4 | Jeremy Shockey, Giants | 2002 | 894 |
| 5 | Sam LaPorta, Lions | 2023 | 889 |
Bowers is just 32 yards shy of becoming the third rookie tight end in NFL history to surpass 1,000 receiving yards in a single season. He also needs just 58 yards to pass Kyle Pitts for the second-most receiving yards for a rookie tight end in a single season.
When it comes to the all-time touchdowns mark for a rookie tight end, Bowers is almost certainly going to fall short. He would need eight more over the final three contests just to tie Ditka, who has the record with 12.
Another rookie record that is in reach for Bowers is the receptions record for all pass-catchers. That record is currently held by Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua, who had 105 last season. Bowers needs 16 more to pass Nacua, which works out to an average of about five per game over the final three.
All-time rookie receptions leaders
| Rank | Player | Year | Total |
| 1 | Puka Nacua, Rams | 2023 | 105 |
| 2 | Jaylen Waddle, Dolphins | 2021 | 104 |
| 3 | Anquan Boldin, Cardinals | 2003 | 101 |
| 4 | Michael Thomas, Saints | 2016 | 92 |
| T-5 | Saquon Barkley, Giants | 2018 | 91 |
| T-5 | Odell Beckham Jr. | 2014 | 91 |
| T-5 | Eddie Royal, Broncos | 2008 | 91 |
| T-8 | Malik Nabers, Giants | 2024 | 90 |
| T-8 | Brock Bowers, Raiders | 2024 | 90 |
| T-8 | Amon-Ra St. Brown, Lions | 2021 | 90 |
| T-8 | Terry Glenn, Patriots | 1996 | 90 |
Bowers has a great shot to put up big numbers in Week 16 against the Jaguars, a team that sports the worst pass defense in the NFL. As a result, it wouldn’t be surprising if Bowers makes history on Sunday.
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