The Ravens are favored to beat the rival Steelers during their upcoming wild-card game, but Baltimore may be shorthanded on offense. Wideout Zay Flowers is dealing with a knee injury and his availability for this week is a question mark as a result. 
Flowers went down during the Ravens’ Week 18 win against the Browns. The team’s starters played most of the game, one in which a win was required to clinch top spot in the AFC North. Initial testing indicated a knee sprain, per Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz. That pointed to a week-to-week timeline, although more recently head coach John Harbaugh has indicated Flowers is day-to-day at this point.
Harbaugh noted (via Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic) Flowers is attempting to recover in time to play on Saturday, declining to confirm if the injury in question is in fact a sprain. In any case, missing the second-year wideout would be a major development for the Ravens given his importance to the team’s passing attack. Flowers set a franchise rookie record with 858 yards last year, leading to high expectations for 2024. With a 74-1,059-4 regular season statline, it is safe to say he met them.
The Ravens have enjoyed a strong season on offense this year, and the play of quarterback Lamar Jackson and running back Derrick Henry have of course played a key role in that regard. Flowers has topped the WR depth chart during the year, though, and his absence would create a notable vacancy. Fellow former first-round pick Rashod Bateman would see an uptick in targets if Flowers were to miss Saturday’s game; Bateman played all 17 games in a season for the first time in his career in 2024, posting career highs in yards (756) and touchdowns (nine). Baltimore – having moved on from trade acquisition Diontae Johnson – also has Nelson Agholor, Tylan Wallace and fourth-round rookie Devontez Walker at the WR spot.
Since Harbaugh added Flowers’ ailment is not seen as season-ending, the possibility remains he will be back to full strength in time for the divisional round provided the Ravens advance. For now, though, he could be sidelined as Baltimore looks to beat Pittsburgh for the second time this year.