OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- The Baltimore Ravens downgraded Pro Bowl wide receiver Zay Flowers to out for Sunday's game against the New Orleans Saints, which means quarterback Lamar Jackson will be without one of his most valuable playmakers.
Flowers, the Ravens' No. 1 receiver, aggravated his left hamstring injury in Sunday's season opening 41-23 win at the Indianapolis Colts. He missed the first two practices of the week before being a limited participant on Friday.
The Ravens had listed Flowers as doubtful on Friday before officially scratching him on Saturday. This is the fourth game that Flowers will miss in his four-year career and his first since the 2024 AFC divisional playoff game at Buffalo.
The loss of Flowers is a significant one for Jackson and Baltimore. Over the last 18 games, Flowers has 91 catches for 1,361 yards. During that same stretch, the Ravens' other wide receivers have combined for 55 catches for 814 yards.
With Flowers ruled out and Ja'Kobi Lane (wrist) on injured reserve, the Ravens will be without two of their top three wide receivers.
Rashod Bateman now becomes the receiver with the most familiarity with Jackson. The other four healthy wide receivers are LaJohntay Wester, Devontez Walker, Elijah Sarratt and Chris Moore.
Earlier in the week, Ravens coach Jesse Minter said his advice to the healthy receivers is "run at the opportunity."
"I think the first game was a great example that the ball can really go anywhere in our offense," Minter said. "Just being very precise, being very detailed, being in the right spot, the ball can find you. Playing fast and playing with confidence, we have a lot of confidence in all those guys."
In addition to downgrading Flowers, the Ravens placed top backup cornerback T.J. Tampa (knee) on injured reserve and signed practice squad linebacker Carl Jones to the 53-man roster.
Baltimore elevated offensive tackle Gerad Lichtenhan from the practice squad. The addition of an extra offensive tackle could indicate that left tackle Ronnie Stanley (questionable, toe) may not play.
Stanley has been sidelined for 45 games in his 10 seasons, but only one of those games was within the past two seasons. If he can't play, Carson Vinson get his first career start.