Ravens' Zay Flowers Out with Knee Injury for NFL Playoff Game vs. Steelers

Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh announced Thursday that wide receiver Zay Flowers will not play in Saturday night's AFC Wild Card Round playoff game against the Pittsburgh Steelers due to a knee injury.

Flowers, who has not practiced this week, suffered the injury during the Ravens' 35-10 win over the Cleveland Browns, which clinched the AFC North title and the No. 3 seed in the AFC.

The second-year wideout was named a Pro Bowler for the first time this season after leading the Ravens with 74 receptions for 1,059 yards to go along with four touchdowns.

Baltimore selected Flowers with the No. 22 overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft out of Boston College, and he made an instant impact as a rookie, leading the team with 77 catches for 858 yards, while also scoring five times.

As the Ravens' top wideout, Flowers played a sizable role in quarterback Lamar Jackson winning his second career NFL MVP Award.

Jackson's statistical output as a passer took a big leap forward this season, as he threw for 4,172 yards, 41 touchdowns and four interceptions, putting him in the thick of the NFL MVP race again with Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen.

With Flowers out on Saturday, the Ravens' wide receiver depth will be put to the test in a big way.

Rashod Bateman will slide into the top spot after setting career highs with 756 yards and nine touchdowns, but the next most productive wide receiver on the roster after him was Nelson Agholor, who had 14 grabs for 231 yards and two scores.

Jackson figures to lean heavily on the tight end duo of Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely, plus the gameplan will undoubtedly feature plenty of running back Derrick Henry, who rushed for 1,921 yards and 16 touchdowns during the regular season.

The Steelers and their stout defense have had more success than any other team against Jackson during his career. He has a record of just 3-5 against Pittsburgh, while completing 57.9 percent of his passes for 1,284 yards, eight touchdowns and nine picks.

After falling 18-16 to Pittsburgh on the road in Week 11, Jackson threw for 207 yards, three touchdowns and one interception in a 34-17 road win over the Steelers in Week 16.

However, Flowers was a huge part of the Ravens' offensive success in that game, finishing with 100 yards on five catches.

While the Steelers enter the playoffs on a four-game losing streak compared to the Ravens riding a four-game winning streak, Flowers' absence could be the type of factor that helps even the odds.