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When will Zay Flowers return? Latest injury update on Ravens WR before wild card game

ayrton ostly, usa today
·3 min read

The Baltimore Ravens are riding a four-game winning streak into the NFL playoffs. The AFC North champions will begin their postseason campaign at home against divisional foe Pittsburgh in a third game between the two teams this season.

However, the Ravens may face the Steelers without Zay Flowers, their top wide receiver from the regular season.

The second-year wideout led the team in receptions and receiving yards but suffered a leg injury in the second quarter of Baltimore's regular season finale against the Cleveland Browns.

After medical personnel helped him on the field, Flowers walked to the sideline under his own power and headed back to the locker room. He did not return to the game.

His status is up in the air for the wild card playoffs. Here's the latest on his availability:

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Zay Flowers injury update

John Harbaugh announced Flowers would miss the Ravens' wild-card round game against the Steelers after missing Thursday's practice.

Flowers was unable to practice at all ahead of the Saturday night game. He was a non-participant at Tuesday's practice, per the team's injury report, and was not seen on the field Wednesday.

Flowers has been an integral part of the Ravens' offense this season. He notched his first career 1,000-yard season and led the pass-catching corps in first downs (48).

Ravens coach John Harbaugh said after the win over Cleveland that Flowers would have an MRI on his leg on Sunday morning after the game. Harbaugh confirmed on Monday that the injury was not season-ending.

"It’s just going to be day-to-day,” Harbaugh said. “Try to do everything he can do to get back as soon as he can and we’ll see where that takes us.”

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Ravens WR depth chart

Here's who makes up the rest of the Ravens' wide receiver corps with Flowers out for Saturday's game:

Baltimore also has wide receivers Malik Cunningham, Keith Kirkwood, Dayton Wade and Anthony Miller signed to the practice squad.

Zay Flowers stats

In 17 regular season games, Flowers had 74 receptions for 1,059 yards and four touchdowns. He also had nine carries for 56 rushing yards.

Who are the Ravens playing in playoffs?

Baltimore Ravens (12-5, AFC North winners) vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7, AFC wild card No. 2)

The Ravens and Steelers will match up for the third time this season. They split the season series with Pittsburgh winning 18-16 in Week 11 and Baltimore winning 34-17 in Week 16.

This is the first time the two teams will meet in the playoffs since the 2014 NFL season. Baltimore won that game 30-17.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Zay Flowers injury update: Ravens WR misses practice again