Trending Now - Zay Flowers Critiques Ravens' Intense Practice Under Harbaugh
WHO:
Fox News - Zay Flowers stated he is looking forward to practices without John Harbaugh running them.
NBC Sports - Jesse Minter was a Ravens assistant before Zay Flowers was drafted.
Fox News - Zay Flowers, 25, is a wide receiver for the Baltimore Ravens.
Fox News - John Harbaugh is the former head coach of the Baltimore Ravens.
NBC Sports - Jesse Minter is the new head coach of the Baltimore Ravens.
WHAT:
Fox News - Flowers mentioned, "We’re doing one-on-ones in Week 17. Week 17, we’re doing one-on-ones, everybody out there, we’re tired, we’re still going."
NBC Sports - Flowers expressed that he asked Minter for reassurance that the team would be more cognizant of taking care of players’ bodies.
Fox News - Zay Flowers stated, "In the first two games of last year, bro, I (ran) 10,000 yards (each)," indicating he ran 20,000 yards in two games and an additional 4,000 to 5,000 yards in practice that week.
NBC Sports - Flowers mentioned that he was the Ravens’ top receiver last season, catching 86 passes for 1,211 yards and five touchdowns over 17 games.
Fox News - Zay Flowers criticized the intensity of practices under John Harbaugh, stating, "The load was heavy."
Fox News - Flowers mentioned that the Ravens had many injuries attributed to the hard practices.
NBC Sports - Flowers stated that during practices, they often wore full pads and conducted one-on-ones even in Week 17.
Fox News - Flowers reported running 20,000 yards in the first two games of the previous season and additional yards in practice.
WHERE:
Fox News - The Ravens' practices took place in Baltimore, Maryland.
Fox News - The game against the Pittsburgh Steelers occurred at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on January 4th, 2026.
WHEN:
Fox News - Zay Flowers played under John Harbaugh for three seasons.
Fox News - The Ravens played against the New England Patriots on December 21st, 2025.
Fox News - Flowers mentioned the first two games of the previous season, which would be in 2025.
WHY:
Fox News - Flowers attributed the Ravens' injuries to the heavy workload and intensity of practices under Harbaugh.
HOW:
Fox News - Flowers reported that Minter said, "You’re going to get your work, but it’s going to be a little easier on your body. You’re going to be fresher for the game."
NBC Sports - Flowers expressed that he asked new head coach Jesse Minter about the practice approach, seeking assurance that it would be "a little easier on your body" compared to Harbaugh's methods.
NBC Sports - Flowers indicated that practices under Harbaugh included as many contact practices as allowed by NFL rules.
NBC Sports - Flowers expressed that he asked Jesse Minter about the new practice approach, seeking assurance that it would be easier on players' bodies.
(UPDATED April 17, 2026 23:10 UTC)
Zay Flowers expressed excitement about upcoming practices now that John Harbaugh won't be leading them, sharing that he looks forward to one-on-one drills in Week 17, even when everyone is tired. He mentioned seeking reassurance from Jesse Minter, a former Ravens assistant, about the team's commitment to player health and well-being. Minter assured Flowers that while they would still get their work in, the approach would be gentler on their bodies, helping them stay fresher for game day.
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(UPDATED April 17, 2026 19:19 UTC)
Zay Flowers made headlines on Friday by claiming he ran an impressive 20,000 yards in just the first two games of last season, along with an additional 4,000 to 5,000 yards in practice that week. The Ravens’ top receiver last season, Flowers caught 86 passes for 1,211 yards and five touchdowns over 17 games. He also shared that he spoke with new head coach Jesse Minter about the practice approach, hoping for a regimen that would be "a little easier on your body" compared to the previous coaching methods.
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(UPDATED April 17, 2026 17:16 UTC)
Zay Flowers, a wide receiver for the Baltimore Ravens, has criticized the intensity of practices under John Harbaugh, claiming that the heavy workload contributed to numerous injuries among players. Flowers noted that during his three seasons with Harbaugh, practices often involved full pads and one-on-one drills even late in the season, which he felt was excessive. Now, with Jesse Minter as the new head coach, Flowers is seeking reassurance that the new practice approach will be less taxing on players' bodies.