Offensive Coordinator Todd Monken plans to keep a healthy Zay Flowers very busy in 2025.
Following Tuesday's OTA practice, Flowers said he felt no ill effects from the knee injury that sidelined him for both Ravens playoff games last season.
"My knee's great," Flowers said. "I feel 100%. I feel like I'm ready to go, ready for the season, no limits."
That means Flowers' role could become even larger in his third season working with Monken. Flowers led Baltimore in catches (74) and receiving yards (1,059) in 2024, while becoming the first Ravens wide receiver to make the Pro Bowl at the position.
However, Flowers is just 24 years old, still learning some of the subtle nuances of playing wide receiver in the NFL. Flowers is a relentless receiver who never seems to tire, and Monken plans to take advantage of that skillset even more.
"We've just got to get him the ball more," Monken said. "He's an unbelievable football player. He's not only an outside receiver that has elite route-running skills, but he's unbelievable with the ball in his hands. So you have a guy that really plays two spots.
"I'm not sure he can use that in his contract negotiations. But I'm just saying you can use him in a variety of roles to get him the ball, which allows your volume to go up. He's a volume catch guy. You can use him in novelty screens, getting him the ball down the field. I expect him to take another leap. When you make it to the Pro Bowl, or you're an All-Pro, you're pretty good."
Lamar Jackson Has Discussed Doing More Team Bonding Activities
The Ravens' strong team culture helped veteran players like Derrick Henry and Roquan Smith feel at home quickly after coming to Baltimore.
According to Flowers, franchise quarterback Lamar Jackson is already thinking about taking team bonding to another level in 2025.
"This year, he wants to do a lot more meeting, he wants to do team stuff, do a lot more personal stuff with us just to get that team comradery to a good level," Flowers said.
As they've done in the past, Jackson and Flowers have linked up for workouts this offseason in South Florida, and Flowers said those extra sessions are always beneficial.
"It's just getting our timing down," Flowers said. "Like if we're running routes, he'll say: 'Run it this way' or 'I like how you ran it this way.' It's talking a lot and detailing the small things that he wants to get down."
Flowers Not Bullish on Playing Flag Football in Olympics
Flag football will make its Olympic debut in 2028 and league owners have voted to move forward with plans to allow NFL players to participate.
That doesn't mean Jackson, Flowers, or other Ravens will play, however.
"I play real football," Flowers said. "I'm just here to play tackle football. I'm not really worried about going to the Olympics. I'm trying to win a Super Bowl."
Monken Sees Cooper Rush Making Smooth Transition
With Jackson not participating in Tuesday's practice, Cooper Rush saw plenty of reps as he continued his transition to being Baltimore's backup quarterback.
Rush spent his previous seven NFL seasons with the Dallas Cowboys and compiled a 9-5 record as a starter. Monken is already seeing why Rush has been successful in a role that is challenging.
"He's a pro, that's why he's made it in the NFL as long as he has," Monken said. "That's why his record as a starter is what it is. It's not like you're going to get a lot of reps. He's done an outstanding job, not a good job, but an outstanding job of winning football games.
"He knows where to go with the ball. He knows his skillset. It's one thing to have a skillset, it's another to understand that. He's not Lamar, so he's got to know where to go with the ball, be on time, using his arm talent, anticipation with throws. Being able to get the ball out and get it to checkdowns."
