Zay Flowers is to Lamar Jackson what Nico Collins is to C.J. Stroud: a giving gift this holiday season.
Despite speculation of his status for Wednesday’s showdown at NRG Stadium, the Baltimore Ravens second-year receiver should be good to go come kickoff against the Houston Texans.
Here’s the latest surrounding Flowers’ status entering Christmas afternoon.
Zay Flowers injury update
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Ravens’ No. 1 target is expected to play in his team’s Week 17 Christmas Showdown against the Texans.
Flowers was listed as questionable on the final injury report on Tuesday afternoon before the team departed for Houston that evening.
For Baltimore-Houston:
— #Ravens WR Zay Flowers, questionable with a shoulder injury, is expected to play.
— #Texans WR Diontae Johnson, just acquired via waivers, is planning to make his Houston debut in Week 18 vs. the #Titans. Today is too quick.— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 25, 2024
While the former Boston College star didn’t practice on Sunday and Monday, he returned to practice on Tuesday in a limited capacity, giving reason for optimism that he could be cleared.
The Ravens have already clinched a playoff berth following last week’s win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, but another victory inches them closer to securing a division title for the second straight season.
Zay Flowers stats
Slowing down Flowers should be Houston’s top priority for Wednesday’s contest. He’s having a surging sophomore season with a team-leading 109 targets, 71 receptions, 1,016 yards and four touchdown catches.
As for the Texans, they’ll be down to one weapon following a season-ending knee injury to Tank Dell. The second-year target caught a 30-yard touchdown pass from C.J. Stroud in Week 16’s loss against the Kansas City Chiefs but suffered a dislocated knee and multiple torn ligaments.
Zay the troll 😈@ZayFlowers | #HardKnocks pic.twitter.com/If1nQ4twIp
— NFL Films (@NFLFilms) December 25, 2024
Dell’s expected to miss a majority —if not all of —the 2025 NFL season as he’ll undergo multiple surgeries from now until the end of next year.
Newly acquired receiver Diontae Johnson, who was claimed off waivers from the Ravens on Monday, is not expected to play.
The Texans and Ravens will kick off at 3:30 p.m. CT Wednesday on Netflix.