In the football-crazed town of Owings Mills, Md., all eyes are on the Baltimore Ravens as they prepare for a high-stakes divisional playoff matchup against the Buffalo Bills. The big question mark hanging over the game is the status of Pro Bowl wide receiver Zay Flowers. Listed as doubtful, Flowers has been absent from practice ever since tweaking his right knee in the regular-season finale against the Cleveland Browns.
Despite not seeing Flowers on the practice field this week, Ravens coach John Harbaugh remains cautiously optimistic. “I think he’ll have a chance,” Harbaugh shared post-practice on Friday. While Flowers hasn’t joined team drills recently, there’s a glimmer of hope from his pre-practice workout, where he was spotted doing some running with a knee brace. The team gave fans a sneak peek of this workout on social media, a move that’s somewhat out of the ordinary for them.
Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson knows just how crucial Flowers is to the team. “It’s a huge challenge if he can’t play,” Jackson remarked, acknowledging the impact Flowers has had all season long. Known for being a game-changer, Flowers’ absence would undoubtedly be felt. However, Jackson expressed confidence in the rest of the team, saying, “But we have guys who are locked in and are ready to step up to the plate for us.”
Flowers is a lynchpin in his second season with the Ravens, leading the team with 74 receptions and 1,059 receiving yards. His ability to stretch the field and make key plays has been a cornerstone of Baltimore’s offensive strategy. In the wild-card round, even without Flowers, Jackson displayed impressive versatility. He completed 16 of 21 passes, racking up 175 yards and two touchdowns in a solid victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers, skillfully distributing the ball among five different players.
If Flowers is sidelined again, it would be the first time he misses back-to-back games, adding a new layer of adversity to the Ravens’ playoff journey. Offensive coordinator Todd Monken is prepared for any scenario, noting, “Hopefully, Zay will be able to go, but if not, we have a lot of really good players. We’re fortunate. We have a lot of really good players, and we anticipate them playing well.”
The Ravens are poised and ready, promising an exciting showdown, with or without their star wideout. As they gear up for Buffalo, the Ravens’ depth and resilience will be put to the test, reminding us all why playoff football is so thrilling.
