Head coach John Harbaugh is still not giving up hope that the Pro Bowl receiver can play Sunday however.
The Baltimore Ravens have the biggest game of their season this Sunday evening when they battle with the Buffalo Bills to determine which of the two offensive powerhouses advances to the AFC Championship Game. Of concern for the Ravens is that their top wide receiver hasn’t practiced all week.
Zay Flowers, the first Ravens wide receiver to ever earn a spot in the Pro Bowl, hasn’t practiced since injuring his knee in Baltimore’s Week 18 win over the Cleveland Browns. On Friday, Flowers was seen working out before practice, but once again he didn’t work with the team.
Ravens WR Zay Flowers (knee) did not practice Friday, which is the last full one before Sunday’s divisional game. He has not practiced all week.
It looked like Flowers did some sort of workout before practice began.
Ravens are having their first outdoor practice of the week. pic.twitter.com/YmNgKzl5is
— Jamison Hensley (@jamisonhensley) January 17, 2025
Flowers led all Ravens receivers with 74 receptions for 1,059 yards and two touchdowns this season. While Baltimore has a powerhouse running back in Derrick Henry and a dual threat in quarterback Lamar Jackson, in a game that could easily require a score of 40+ points to win, having your primary receiver not catching passes or testing the stability of his knee while running routes for the past 14 days is not ideal.
Ravens head coach John Harbaugh went on record Monday saying that he felt like Flowers was the type of player that, even if he didn’t practice during the week, he would feel confident putting on the field Sunday if he was healthy enough. Now, after all of Baltimore’s full practices for the week have been completed, Harbaugh is doubling down on that statement saying that he thinks Flowers “will have a chance” to be active by game time.
John Harbaugh on Zay Flowers’ availability for Sunday: “I think he has a chance.”
Flowers (knee) did not practice all week. pic.twitter.com/iKhGRDkquC
— Jamison Hensley (@jamisonhensley) January 17, 2025
That chance, however, is officially “Doubtful” according to the Baltimore Ravens’ official daily injury report. After practice had been concluded, and whatever observances needed to be made by the medical team, the Ravens published their report including game day designations. Things aren’t looking too promising for Flowers.
Game status at Buffalo: pic.twitter.com/bWlT5YpO3j
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) January 17, 2025
On a side note, the Ravens have yet to add former Buffalo Bills Deonte Harty back to their active roster. Harty has been on Injured Reserve since Week 6 as he’s battled a knee injury. Whether Flowers’ availability affects what Baltimore plans to do with Harty may be something we find out on Saturday.