Zay Flowers Day-to-Day After Left Quad Contusion at Ravens Training Camp

Pro Bowl wide receiver Zay Flowers is considered day-to-day following a collision with Jaylinn Hawkins during a 7-on-7 drill at Owings Mills.

OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers is listed as day-to-day after suffering a left quad contusion during a training camp practice on Saturday. The Pro Bowl wideout sustained the injury midway through a 7-on-7 drill when he collided with safety Jaylinn Hawkins while attempting to catch a pass over the middle of the field. Flowers immediately collapsed to the turf and clutched the upper portion of his left leg in visible pain. Following the incident, he was evaluated for approximately 10 minutes by a team trainer who performed flexion tests on the affected limb.

This injury scare occurred exactly three days after Flowers signed a four-year contract extension worth $140 million. The deal, which averages $35 million annually, establishes him as the fourth-highest-paid wide receiver in the NFL. During the medical evaluation on the field, quarterback Lamar Jackson, running back Derrick Henry, and general manager Eric DeCosta all approached the receiver to check on his status. Flowers eventually exited the practice field with a limp, though head coach Jesse Minter indicated the long-term outlook is positive.

Impact on the Baltimore Passing Attack

Flowers enters the 2026 season as the primary target for Lamar Jackson after a dominant 2025 campaign. Last year, he recorded 1,211 receiving yards, a figure that represented 36.9% of the Ravens' total team receiving output. This production ranked as the second-highest share of a team's receiving yards by any individual player in the league, trailing only Jaxon Smith-Njigba of the Seattle Seahawks, who accounted for 44.1% of his team's total. Minter noted that while Flowers is sidelined, other players will have the opportunity to execute the specific routes typically reserved for the No. 1 receiver.

Timeline for Return to Play

Despite the initial concern, the Ravens do not expect Flowers to miss the regular-season opener scheduled for September 13 against the Indianapolis Colts. The contusion is viewed as a short-term setback rather than a structural issue. Minter stated that while the team hopes for the best, the reality of training camp involves managing these types of physical collisions. The coaching staff does not anticipate a lengthy absence for the centerpiece of their aerial offense, though he may be sidelined for a brief period during the remainder of camp.

Training Camp Roster Adjustments

With Flowers temporarily unavailable, the Ravens' depth chart will be tested at the Owings Mills facility. The collision with Hawkins, a veteran safety, highlights the physical nature of the team's preparation leading up to the September kickoff. The trainer’s ten-minute examination on the field was a precautionary measure to ensure no further damage occurred beyond the bruising of the quad muscle. As the team moves forward, the focus remains on integrating the other receivers into the roles vacated by the $140 million star during his recovery period.