Ravens WR Zay Flowers has 'chance' to play against Bills, John Harbaugh says

Brian Wacker, Baltimore Sun on Jan 17, 2025

Published in Football

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BALTIMORE — Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers didn’t practice for a third straight day Friday, putting his status in doubt for Sunday night’s AFC divisional round game against the Buffalo Bills in Orchard Park, N.Y.

Coach John Harbaugh wouldn’t go as far as ruling him out just yet, however. “I think he’ll have a chance,” he said Friday afternoon.

Flowers was finishing up a workout inside the team’s field house at the beginning of the portion of practice open to the media, but was also wearing the same substantial brace he’s had on his right knee since injuring it two weeks ago. He was listed as doubtful on the team’s final injury report. Wide receiver-kick returner Deonte Harty (knee), who hasn’t played since Week 6, is questionable.

Should Flowers not be available, it would mark the second straight playoff game that he has missed after suffering a sprained right knee in Baltimore’s AFC North title-clinching victory over the Cleveland Browns in the final week of the regular season. A more likely scenario given the significance of the sprain would be a return for the AFC championship game next Sunday, should the Ravens advance.

Flowers, in just his second season, led the Ravens in catches (74) and receiving yards (1,059) and is the first Pro Bowl selection at the position in the organization’s history. What kind of impact his absence would have remains to be seen.

When the Ravens and Bills met in Week 4 of this season in Baltimore, he had just one catch on two targets for 10 yards as the Ravens leaned on their running game.

Baltimore ran for 236 yards on 34 attempts, with Derrick Henry accounting for 199 yards, including an 87-yard touchdown on the Ravens’ first play from scrimmage. Quarterback Lamar Jackson attempted just 18 passes, completing 13 for 156 yards and two touchdowns as Baltimore rolled to a 35-10 win.

The Ravens also deployed a similar strategy without Flowers in last week’s 28-14 home wild-card win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. Baltimore ran the ball on 24 of its first 32 plays and racked up 299 yards on the ground. Henry again led the way with 186 yards and two scores on 26 carries.

With Flowers potentially out again, it will be worth watching how Baltimore spreads the ball around and utilizes its wide receivers.

Last week, Tylan Wallace led the group with 39 snaps on offense, while Rashod Bateman, who had two catches for 24 yards and a touchdown, was second with 36. Running back Justice Hill led the team in receptions with four for 13 yards and a touchdown.

The Bills, meanwhile, are healthy with just one player listed as questionable.

Running back Ray Davis was limited in practice for a third straight day Friday and remains in the NFL’s concussion protocol. Buffalo coach Sean McDermott told reporters that he’ll see how the rookie fourth-round draft pick progresses leading into the game.

No other players on the Bills had an injury designation for the game, meaning they should be fully healthy.