Former Covington Catholic High School football star Michael Mayer is in line to become an NFL Week 1 starter. The one-time Notre Dame All-American tight end is expected to be elevated on the depth chart ahead of the Las Vegas Raiders’ season opener after a surprise injury update on Wednesday shook the silver and black.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter summarized the former Colonel’s immediate outlook, saying “Raiders tight end Michael Mayer already was going to be a part of the team’s attack, and his role now is expected to grow without Brock Bowers.”
Bowers, the Pro Bowl tight end, has been ruled out for at least one week following a meniscus trim procedure on his knee. Bowers, who suffered the injury during practice late last week, could miss up to two games. Even that could be an optimistic timeline. The surgery required to make the repair typically forces a player out as much as a month. The sudden roster shift thrusts one of northern Kentucky’s favorite sons into the spotlight. The Raiders are preparing to host the Miami Dolphins on Sunday at 4:25 p.m. at Allegiant Stadium. The game will be televised on FOX.
Mayer is one of the better No. 2 tight ends in the NFL. He could start for other teams. Last year, he explained to football reporter Nick Walters, his passion for the game: “I’m very confident in myself. I know exactly what I can do, how I can play in the NFL and what I can bring to a team. That’s been unwavering. I’m really looking forward to showing everybody even more next year what the heck I can do.”
He’s getting that chance. The Raiders view the tight end position as a versatile offensive chess piece and a foundation for their passing game. That helps explain why Bowers was targeted 153 times as a rookie in 2024. Bowers missed five games last season following a Week 1 left knee injury that limited him for several weeks. The 6-foot-4, 265-pound Mayer entered Raiders training camp commanding the No. 2 tight end spot. The 25-year-old 2023 second-round draft pick from Independence was comfortably ahead of veteran backup Ian Thomas.
The Raiders run a wide-zone offensive scheme heavy on pre-snap motion and play-action. It’s put in place by head coach Klint Kubiak, who calls the plays. “Two big threats. We could both block really well. I think it’s just going to be an interesting season in terms of that,” Mayer said of the two-tight end alignment during training camp while speaking to Raiders.com. “I think we’ve just got to keep working hard, keep our head down. Klint’s got a plan.”
Mayer to the rescue
The Raiders typically use high rates of motion in 12 personnel (one running back, two tight ends). This allows them to read defensive coverages, create favorable matchups and disguise whether they’re running or passing. Bowers functions as a flexible moving target, forcing defenses to reveal coverage pre-snap. Mayer serves as a complement by functioning primarily as an inline tight end. He acts as a crucial block-sealer to spring the running back. He’s also a reliable receiver, acting as a security blanket for the quarterback.
Barring anything unforeseen, Mayer should be the top tight end target for veteran Raiders QB Kirk Cousins, who has a career completion rate over 70% when throwing to tight ends. The Raiders’ tight end usage may temporarily shift away from two-tight end packages during certain in-game situations. That would leave Mayer as the anticipated, high-workload focal point of the position. Mayer enters his first contract year expecting to resume his role as the Raiders’ oft-utilized No. 2 tight end when Bowers returns.
Last month, it was reported just how important Mayer is to the Raiders when NFL insider Jason La Canfora revealed remarks from an anonymous rival general manager who said he was looking to trade for Mayer. “We asked about him,” the GM said of inquiring about Mayer at last year’s trade deadline. “They weren’t open to it. I think (Raiders minority owner Tom Brady) probably knew they were drafting a quarterback high in 2026 and wanted to have 12 personnel already established.”
For the CovCath community that watched Mayer dominate the prep gridiron, this moment feels like destiny repeating itself. Mayer has proven he can shoulder the load when they call his number. In his first game as Bowers’ starting replacement last Oct. 12, he caught five passes for 50 yards. He added a touchdown that helped the Raiders end a four-game losing streak with a home win over Tennessee.
Mayer also missed time last season due to a knee injury, sitting out four games, but he was the primary tight end the last two regular-season contests and enjoyed his best effort Dec. 28 with a season-high nine catches for 89 yards against the New York Giants.
His three catches for 50 yards helped Las Vegas defeat Kansas City in the season finale. The Raiders finished 3-14. Mayer led the team in receiving yards in the final two games. He finished the season with 35 catches for 328 yards, both career highs.
From CovCath to the NFL
Long before he became a Raider, Mayer was putting together a legendary resume at CovCath. Playing for head coach Eddie Eviston, he led the 15-0 Colonels to the 2019 Class 5A state championship and was MVP of the title game. That season, he stacked 50 catches for 970 yards and 15 touchdowns (17 total) on offense, and 99 tackles and four interceptions, one returned for a score, on defense.
His performance earned him 2019 Kentucky Football Coaches Association Mr. Football and Gatorade Kentucky Football Player of the Year honors. He was a near-consensus top-50 overall player nationally, the No. 2 tight end nationally and the No. 1 player from Kentucky. He also won a state title in 2017 as a sophomore for another 15-0 CovCath squad.
Mayer took his talents to South Bend, where he cemented his status as one of the greatest tight ends in Fighting Irish history. Over a three-year career, he became Notre Dame’s all-time leader in receptions, receiving yards, and touchdowns for a tight end, culminating in the program’s first consensus first-team All-American in nearly 50 years. He became the 13th player to reach 2,000 career receiving yards in the school’s storied 140-year history.
His prolific college career made him highly coveted in the 2023 NFL Draft. The Raiders traded up to select him with the 35th overall pick. As a rookie, he had 27 catches for 304 yards and two touchdowns before a late-season toe injury cut his year short. When the Raiders drafted Bowers in 2024, Mayer transitioned into his current blocking-heavy role while remaining a threat in the passing game.
Entering his fourth year in the league, Mayer’s professional journey shows steady growth and adaptability. Through offensive coordinator changes, multi-tight end packages and scheme updates, he remains a respected Raiders anchor. He needs 17 receptions to reach 100 in his career and 212 receiving yards to reach 1,000. On top of that, Mayer is trying to secure a big payday next offseason.
“But this is a monster year for him because expectations on him are extremely high. And he’s never going to play in a better offense tailored for a tight end than what Klint Kubiak is going to run,” Hondo Carpenter of Raiders on SI.com said on the June 8 edition of the Las Vegas Raiders Insider Podcast. “So, this is a monster year for Michael Mayer, not only for him but for his NFL career.”
