Zay

Flowers

Flowers went through a short pregame workout before the Ravens made his status official but his inability to practice all week made him a long shot to play. Flowers produced an extremely efficient second NFL season, catching 74-of-112 targets for 1,059 yards and four touchdowns and rushed nine times for 56 yards. Flowers is one among just 31 NFL wide receivers to earn 100 targets in the regular season. He proved himself an elite post-catch producer, forcing 18 missed tackles (seventh-most) while averaging 6.3 yards after the catch (third-most). He finished as the PPR WR25 on the year and should be expected to assume weekly WR2 status next season. Rashod Bateman gets another shot at playing the Ravens’ No. 1 wide receiver role with Flowers sidelined but tight ends Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely will assuredly challenge him for the team lead in targets. The Ravens also declared RB Rasheen Ali, C Nick Samac, OLB Adisa Isaac, DT Josh Tupou, S Marcus Williams and S Beau Brade inactive.

Rapoport reports Flowers had a “promising” workout with the team on Friday, which could put him on track to return in the AFC Championship Game should the Ravens beat the Bills on Sunday. Flowers is officially doubtful heading into the game, and has been trending on the wrong side of playing after missing an entire week of practice.

Head coach John Harbaugh told reporters earlier today Flowers “has a chance” to play this week, though that appears to have been either a stretch of the truth or outright gamesmanship from the veteran coach. After not practicing at all this week, the doubtful tag all but guarantees Flowers will miss Sunday’s game. Rashod Bateman and Mark Andrews will split the No. 1 duties, with Bateman working on deep routes and Andrews operating in the middle of the field. Isaiah Likely ran as the de facto WR3 last week and will do so again versus Buffalo. All three pass-catchers are strong fantasy options for the Divisional Round slate.

Flowers was spotted doing some light work before Friday’s practice but did not participate in the session itself, presumably marking his third and final DNP of the week. As Harbaugh previously noted, Flowers does not need to practice to suit up on Sunday, but it’s still a bad sign for the young wideout. It looks like he won’t play, though the Ravens are taking it down to the wire to be sure. The impending questionable tag also forces the Bills to consider the possibility of Baltimore having their top receiver for this game. If Flowers is ruled out, Rashod Bateman and Mark Andrews will split the No. 1 target duties in his absence. Isaiah Likely will also be used as a de facto second receiver, giving him plenty of fantasy value for the upcoming DFS slate.

John Harbaugh has already made clear that Flowers can suit up on game day without participating in practice but, were this scenario to play out, Flowers would likely be playing in a limited capacity and at risk for in-game setbacks. Friday’s injury report will give us a better indication as to his status but Flowers does not appear to be healthy enough to play at this time. The Ravens face the Bills on Sunday evening.

Head coach John Harbaugh told reporters on Monday the Ravens were in “we’ll see mode” with Flowers. While an early-week DNP doesn’t rule him out, he does appear to be less than a 50-50 bet to play this week. Harbaugh did note that Flowers isn’t a player who needs to practice before suiting up. It remains a waiting game for now. If he can’t go, Rashod Bateman will set in as the team’s No. 1 receiver with Mark Andrews as the top overall target.

Harbaugh noted that Flowers doesn’t need to practice to play while adding the Pro Bowl receiver will play “if he feels healthy enough and it’s safe for him.” There was hope that Flowers would be available to play in the divisional round after missing Saturday’s wild card game against the Steelers, but it sounds like Flowers is anything but a lock to play on Sunday against the Bills. His practice status will be one to monitor when the Ravens release their first injury report of the week on Wednesday.

Flowers, who led the Ravens in targets the last time they played the Steelers, will miss Baltimore’s Wild Car game, making Rashod Bateman the de factor WR1 for Lamar Jackson. Flowers’ absence could lead to more looks for tight ends Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely too. Baltimore’s defense, one of the best in the league over the final month of the regular season, will be without Williams at safety.

Flowers didn’t log a practice this week and was assumed to be a long shot to play after suffering a knee injury in Week 18’s win over the Browns. The 2024 Pro Bowler should have a better chance at suiting up for the AFC Divisional Round, should the Ravens win on Saturday. For now, Lamar Jackson will depend more on Rashod Bateman and Mark Andrews in the passing game against a Steelers team that is in the midst of a four-game losing streak.

Flowers did not practice on Tuesday and was not spotted during Wednesday’s session, marking another DNP for the young wideout. Head coach Jim Harbaugh called him day to day on Monday. Even if he misses Saturday’s game, it sounds like there is a good chance Flowers is ready to suit up for the Divisional Round, assuming Baltimore takes care of business against Pittsburgh. In the meantime, Rashod Bateman and Mark Andrews will shoulder more of the receiving workload versus the Steelers.