The Baltimore Ravens got a collective scare on Saturday when star wide receiver Zay Flowers went down during practice, but the team can breathe a sigh of relief. Head coach Jesse Minter confirmed that Flowers is dealing with a quad contusion, not a more serious injury, and he's expected to miss only a few days of practice.
The incident occurred during a collision with safety Jaylinn Hawkins. Flowers struggled to get up and was seen favoring his left leg before trainers attended to him. ESPN's Jamison Hensley reported that trainers flexed Flowers' leg while quarterback Lamar Jackson and running back Derrick Henry checked on him. General manager Eric DeCosta also spoke with Flowers during the evaluation.
The timing was particularly tense given that Flowers just signed a massive four-year, $140 million extension less than a week ago, with $108 million guaranteed. That deal ties him with Justin Jefferson as the fourth-highest paid wide receiver in the league.
"A great day for the Ravens," Minter said via ESPN. "When your best players are the right type of people, and they bring the right mentality, and everything marries together, those are the type of guys … it's such a great thing when something like that happens to them. Nothing better as a coach than to see those guys get what they deserve."
Flowers has been a game-changer for Baltimore's offense, coming off a 2025 season where he hauled in 86 catches for 1,211 yards and five touchdowns. His presence on the field is crucial for the team's Super Bowl aspirations.
The good news is that this injury appears minor. Minter told reporters that Flowers should be ready for Week 1, and the team is taking a cautious approach to his recovery. This is a relief for a franchise that has seen its fair share of training camp injuries this year, similar to the 49ers' recent injury woes.
While Flowers' absence from practice for a few days is not ideal, it's a far cry from the serious injury that initially seemed possible. The Ravens will likely keep him out of drills as a precaution, but all signs point to him being on the field when the regular season kicks off.
For now, Baltimore fans can exhale. The team's most dynamic playmaker is expected to be fine, and the focus can return to preparing for the season ahead.
