Ravens’ Zay Flowers misses practice ahead of huge Week 17 Dolphins tilt

Zay Flowers’ availability for his team’s pivotal Week 17 matchup with the Miami Dolphins might be in serious jeopardy after all. A day after the rookie wide receiver was estimated as a ‘DNP’ for the Baltimore Ravens’ walkthrough session on the official injury report, he missed a full practice on Thursday with a calf injury.

The No. 22 pick of the 2023 NFL Draft, Flowers immediately emerged as MVP frontrunner Lamar Jackson’s top receiving target in his first NFL go-around. The former Boston College star leads the Ravens with 74 receptions for 762 yards this season, adding four touchdown catches. He’s coming off arguably his best game of a standout rookie campaign, catching a career-high nine of his 13 targets for 72 yards and a touchdown in Baltimore’s impressive 33-19 victory over the San Francisco 49ers.

Zay Flowers was seen wearing a walking boot during Wednesday’s walkthrough, but wasn’t wearing in on Thursday, according to Giana Han of the Baltimore Banner. Fortunately for the Ravens, Flowers’ practice status isn’t necessarily an indication of of lagging changes he’ll suit up on Sunday. He also missed practice last Wednesday and was a limited participant on Thursday with a foot injury.

The Week 17 clash between the Ravens and Dolphins is both teams’ biggest game of the season to date. Baltimore, 12-3, currently holds a one-game lead over Miami for the No. 1 playoff seed in the AFC, assuring John Harbaugh’s team home-field advantage en route to the Super Bowl.

The Ravens and Dolphins are set to kickoff from M&T Bank Stadium at 10:00 a.m. (PT) on Sunday.