The Baltimore Ravens will be without their top receiver to start the postseason. Zay Flowers has been ruled out for the Ravens’ Wild Card game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Zay Flowers Out Vs. Steelers
Coach Harbaugh announces WR Zay Flowers will not play this weekend. pic.twitter.com/3Ky3jYGfHY
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) January 9, 2025
Ravens head coach John Harbaugh announced Thursday that Flowers would miss Saturday’s game with a knee injury.
“Zay Flowers is not gonna be able to make it to the game this week,” Harbaugh told reporters. “He’ll get started again next week, and we’ll move forward with the guys we have.”
Flowers injured his right knee in Week 18’s win over the Cleveland Browns. Flowers exited the game and was considered day-to-day to start the week. Flowers did not participate in any practice sessions this week before Harbaugh’s announcement.
Flowers emerged as the Ravens’ top receiver in 2024. Flowers led Baltimore with 74 catches for 1,059 yards. The second-year pro also had four touchdowns and was named to the Pro Bowl.
Baltimore Ravens Pass Catchers
Zay Flowers is ruled out for the Ravens Wild Card game so Rashod Bateman will be WR1:
“The situation that we have on our hands doesn't change anything about me and my role and what I have to do. My job is to go out and make plays no matter who’s on the field.”#RavensFlock pic.twitter.com/muNN8HNnO4
— Carita Parks (@CaritaCParks) January 10, 2025
Lamar Jackson will not be without his top receiving option when he faces the Steelers’ eighth-ranked scoring defense (20.4).
Wide receiver Rashod Bateman, running back Justice Hill, and tight ends Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely will be the Ravens’ top options.
Bateman, who finished third on the team in catches (45), believes his job remains the same. He’s ready to “make plays” on Saturday.
“The situation that we have on our hands, it doesn’t change anything about me and my role and what I got to do,” Bateman said regarding Flowers’ absence. “My job is to go out and make plays no matter who’s on the field. So, it might look a little different as far as where I’m at [lining up on the field]. But overall, we got a football game, and I got to go play ball.”
The Steelers have won eight of the last 10 matchups with the Ravens.
No. 6 Pittsburgh Steelers at No. 3 Baltimore Ravens
- Date: Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025
- Time: 8 p.m. ET
- Location: M&T Bank Stadium — Baltimore, Maryland
- TV Channel: Prime Video
- Announcers: Al Michaels, Kirk Herbstreit, Kaylee Hartung
- Line: Ravens -9.5
