After missing his sixth consecutive practice in the last two weeks, Baltimore Ravens leading receiver Zay Flowers is doubtful to play in the team’s AFC divisional game Sunday night against the Buffalo Bills. He was the only Ravens player absent from practice this week, though he was moving fairly well during an individual workout on Friday.
Flowers’ status is not a surprise. The 24-year-old hasn’t logged a practice since he sustained a right knee sprain in the second quarter of Baltimore’s Week 18 victory over the Cleveland Browns. Ravens coach John Harbaugh said a few days later that Flowers, a Pro Bowl selection this season, was “day-to-day,” but that always felt more like gamesmanship so future opponents spent time preparing for the 1,000-yard receiver.
Harbaugh doubled down on his comments from earlier this week on Friday, suggesting Flowers “has a chance” to suit up Sunday. However, it always seemed dubious that the Ravens would be comfortable playing a guy who hasn’t been on the field in two weeks and doesn’t have his normal mobility in a game with these stakes with what is expected to be frigid conditions.
Putting in work! @ZayFlowers pic.twitter.com/iwGUsLqGqs
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) January 17, 2025
The Ravens beat the Bills, 35-10, in Week 4 with Flowers catching just one ball (on two targets) for 10 yards. They overwhelmed the Bills, who were missing several key defensive starters, with their run game, rushing for 271 yards on 34 carries. That figures to be the recipe again for the Ravens, particularly with Flowers out. The Ravens will probably use their heavy packages often, with multiple tight ends and fullback Patrick Ricard.
While Rashod Bateman steps into the No. 1 receiver role in Flowers’ absence, Lamar Jackson is still likely to spread the ball around. Jackson only had 16 completions against the Steelers last week. However, seven different players had a reception and six different guys were targeted twice or more. No Flowers likely means more opportunities for Justice Hill out of the backfield and significant roles for tight ends Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely in the passing game.
Required reading
(Photo: Patrick Smith / Getty Images)
