As the Ravens prepare for their Divisional Round clash with the Buffalo Bills, all eyes are on the potential return of Zay Flowers, Baltimore’s Pro Bowl wide receiver. Flowers, who missed last week’s Wild Card victory over the Steelers due to a knee injury, remains in “we’ll see” mode according to head coach John Harbaugh.
During his Monday press conference, Harbaugh addressed Flowers’ status, emphasizing that the decision will come later in the week.
“He’s working hard to get back,” Harbaugh said. “We’ll see toward the end of the week if he’s practicing, and he could play without practicing for sure if he feels healthy enough and if it’s safe for him.”
Flowers suffered the injury in the regular-season finale against Cleveland and has been sidelined since.
Flowers has been a game-changer for Baltimore’s offense this season, leading the team with:
His ability to stretch the field and make clutch plays has been critical for MVP Lamar Jackson and the Ravens’ passing attack. However, the team showed its versatility against the Steelers, relying heavily on the ground game while other playmakers stepped up.
If Flowers is unavailable, the Ravens still have plenty of firepower:
Baltimore’s league-leading rushing attack, led by Jackson and Derrick Henry, remains the backbone of their offense. Against Buffalo’s nickel-heavy defense, the Ravens could opt for another ground-and-pound strategy, as they did in their Week 4 victory, when they ran for 271 yards on just 34 carries.
Another potential boost for Baltimore’s offense and special teams is the return of veteran wide receiver and return specialist Deonte Harty. Cleared to practice last week after missing 12 games on injured reserve, Harty was not activated for the Wild Card round but could be ready for Sunday.
“He had the physical situation, he had some personal things he was dealing with,” Harbaugh said. “In his mind, he’s ready … we’ll just have to see.”
Harty’s presence would stabilize Baltimore’s return game, which has faced inconsistencies throughout the season. If he’s unavailable, Steven Sims or Tylan Wallace are expected to handle those duties.
As Sunday’s game approaches, the Ravens’ offense remains adaptable. Whether Flowers or Harty returns, Baltimore has shown it can adjust its game plan to maximize its strengths. With Jackson and Henry leading the way, the Ravens are poised to test Buffalo’s defense with a balanced attack.
What do you think, Ravens fans? Will Flowers or Harty make a difference against the Bills, or will Baltimore’s rushing attack once again steal the show? Let us know in the comments!