The Baltimore Ravens may have to try to win another playoff game without their Pro Bowl receiver. Zay Flowers, after missing the team’s wild-card round victory over the Steelers with a knee injury, has not practiced this week, missing Wednesday and Thursday.
Head coach John Harbaugh said Flowers has “a chance” to play in Sunday night’s divisional round matchup against the Buffalo Bills, despite not practicing all week. Harbaugh also confirmed that Flowers did not practice on Friday.
Flowers, who was injured in Baltimore’s Week 18 win over the Cleveland Browns, reportedly had a “noticeable limp” in the tunnel following last Saturday’s win over Pittsburgh. Flowers has not practiced since suffering the injury.
Flowers, a 2023 first-round pick, has become the No. 1 wide receiver the Ravens surely hoped he would be when they drafted him. After a successful rookie season, Flowers had an even better 2024 campaign that included his first Pro Bowl selection. His 1,059 receiving yards this season tied the ninth-highest single-season total in franchise history.
Despite Flowers’ absence, the Ravens’ offense dominated the Steelers’ defense in the wild card round. Baltimore’s offense racked up 464 total yards, including 299 on the ground. Lamar Jackson passed 16 of 21, including touchdown passes to running back Justice Hill and wide receiver and 2021 first-round pick Rashod Bateman, who caught a career-high nine touchdown passes during the regular season.
If Flowers can’t go, expect the Ravens to continue focusing on establishing the run against the Bills, who allowed Derrick Henry to rush for 199 yards as the Ravens posted a 35-10 win over Buffalo in Week 4. Rest assured, Jackson will also take throws through the air against a Bills defense that allowed the 24th most passing yards in the NFL during the regular season.