OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers was not practicing Wednesday because of a hamstring injury, four days before Baltimore plays the Dallas Cowboys at Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro.
ESPN’s Jamison Hensley reported the absence on the first day of Baltimore’s practice week. Flowers has not played since the first half of the season opener.
Zay Flowers’ Hamstring Injury Dates Back To Training Camp
During training camp, Flowers missed about two weeks after hurting his hamstring in joint practices with the Minnesota Vikings. The Ravens held him out as a precaution before the regular season.
In the opener at the Indianapolis Colts, Flowers caught 5 passes for 150 yards and 1 touchdown, all in the first half of a 41-23 win. The 150 yards were a career high. He aggravated his left hamstring and was ruled out for the second half.
The following week, Flowers sat out practice Wednesday and Thursday before returning Friday as a limited participant. The Ravens listed him as doubtful against the New Orleans Saints, and he was inactive for Sunday’s 24-17 home loss.
Baltimore led 14-3 after Rashod Bateman caught a 22-yard touchdown pass in the final 30 seconds of the first half. New Orleans outscored the Ravens 18-3 after halftime, and the go-ahead score came on a fourth-down quarterback sneak with 1:28 left.
Last season, Flowers set career highs with 86 receptions and 1,211 receiving yards. He was named to his second straight Pro Bowl.
Jesse Minter’s Injury Update Before The Rio Trip
Ravens coach Jesse Minter said Monday the team would know more about its injured players by Wednesday.
“I feel like we will have a good shot with a lot of guys this week, which is encouraging,” Minter said. “So, we will know more probably Wednesday, but I think we are on a positive trajectory with a lot of those guys having a chance to be back.”
Baltimore will hold normal practices Wednesday and Thursday before flying to Brazil on Thursday night, Minter said. The Ravens are scheduled to arrive Friday morning. The Cowboys also fly out Thursday night.
Sunday’s game is the NFL’s first regular-season game in Rio de Janeiro, and Dallas is the designated home team for the 3:25 p.m. CT kickoff on CBS. The league’s field director, Nick Pappas, said Monday that the NFL has no concerns about the grass at Maracanã.
Both teams are 1-1. Dallas lost its opener to the New York Giants and beat the Washington Commanders 37-20 on Sunday. Baltimore is 6-1 all-time against the Cowboys and won 28-25 when the teams last met, in Week 3 of the 2024 season.
