Injuries to star players have been a common theme holding back the Baltimore Ravens of late, and wide receiver Zay Flowers thinks he knows why it has been a recurring issue.
“We were in full pads all the time [under former head coach John Harbaugh]. Nonetheless many practices in pads you will get, each single one. We’re doing one-on-ones in Week 17. Week 17, we’re doing one-on-ones, all people on the market, we’re drained; we’re nonetheless going. … You do not handle that. Low-key, that is why we had lots of accidents, due to how we practiced,” Flowers said on “4th And South w/ Jarvis Landry & Leonard Fournette.”
“The load was heavy.”
The Ravens are coming off an 8-9 season that noticed them miss the playoffs for the primary time since 2021 and in the end fireplace Harbaugh after 18 seasons on the helm.
Quarterback and two-time NFL MVP Lamar Jackson, linebacker and three-time All-Professional Roquan Smith, cornerback and two-time All-Professional Marlon Humphrey, defensive lineman and two-time Professional Bowler Nnamdi Madubuike and tight finish Isaiah Likely had been among the many many Baltimore gamers to overlook a number of video games on account of harm in 2025.
Over Harbaugh’s 18 seasons as Baltimore’s head coach (2008-25), the Ravens went a mixed 180-113 within the common season and 13-11 within the postseason, highlighted by successful Super Bowl XLVII and 6 AFC North division titles.
Whereas acknowledging that Harbaugh taught Flowers tips on how to be “ready” for video games, the receiver feels that new head coach Jesse Minter — who was a defensive assistant beneath Harbaugh from 2017-20 — could have the gamers in a routine extra conducive to success.
“[Minter] is aware of how we labored with Harbaugh. So he is like, ‘You are going to get your work, however it is going to be a bit simpler in your physique. You are going to be brisker for the sport,'” Flowers stated.
Final season (2025), Flowers totaled a career-high in receptions (86), receiving yards (1,211) and receiving touchdowns (5). Flowers, whom Baltimore chosen with the No. 22 decide within the 2023 NFL Draft out of Boston College, has been a Professional Bowler and logged 1,000-plus receiving yards in every of the previous two seasons.
