The Baltimore Ravens received encouraging news on wide receiver Zay Flowers as they prepare for their season opener against the Indianapolis Colts.
Week 1 of the 2026 NFL season is less than two weeks away. Flowers has been dealing with a lower-body injury that has kept him in and out of practice during training camp.
The speedy receiver sat out the preseason, a common approach for Baltimore’s starters as the team works to limit risk before the regular season. That left some uncertainty about his availability for the opener.
CBS Sports reporter Matt Zenitz provided an update based on sources around the team. The report offered the kind of clarity the Ravens wanted to hear.
“#Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers, who has missed practice time recently with a lower body injury, is currently expected to be back practicing in a full capacity next week and the full expectation is that he’ll be good to go for Week 1 vs. the #Colts, sources tell @CBSSports.”
That timeline would put Flowers back on the field for full practices in the coming days. Coaches and teammates have treated his status as one of the more important injury questions heading into the first week.
Flowers has developed into a cornerstone of the Ravens’ passing attack. He earned Pro Bowl honors in each of the past two seasons after being selected in the first round of the 2023 draft.
Last season he recorded 86 receptions for 1,211 yards and five touchdowns. Those reception and yardage totals were career highs, while the touchdown number matched his previous best.
Baltimore responded to that production by signing Flowers to a four-year, $140 million contract extension. The deal keeps him under contract through the 2031 season.
The Ravens’ receiving group looks different after DeAndre Hopkins departed. Rashod Bateman is expected to start as the No. 2 option, while rookie Ja’Kobi Lane has shown flashes that could eventually push him into a larger role.
Bateman and Lane give the offense more size. What the unit still needs is the burst and separation Flowers provides on the outside and in the slot.
Quarterback Lamar Jackson has targeted Flowers as his primary option for three seasons. The two built chemistry quickly after Flowers arrived as a first-round pick, and that connection remains central to the offense’s design.
Coaches have praised Flowers’ route running and ability to create mismatches against defensive backs. Those traits become even more valuable when the Ravens need to stretch the field or create explosive plays.
The expectation now is that Flowers will be available when Baltimore opens the season against Indianapolis. His presence would give Jackson a reliable downfield threat from the first snap.
Team officials have not issued an official practice report that contradicts the latest information. For now, the outlook around Flowers is positive as the Ravens finish their final preparations.
If he practices fully next week as anticipated, he should be in line to play a significant role in Week 1. That would be welcome news for an offense that relies on his speed and reliability.
