NFL news: Ravens’ Zay Flowers says Harbaugh’s hard practices caused injuries
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Baltimore Ravens star wide receiver Zay Flowers is looking forward to practices without John Harbaugh coaching him.
Flowers, 25, played for Harbaugh for three seasons and said his former coach put the Ravens through tough workouts, with the veteran coach doing as much contact drills as NFL rules allow. The wide receiver even attributed Raven’s injuries to grueling workouts.
“The pads are always full,” Flowers said during a recent on-screen appearance. 4th and South podcast. “No matter how many pad practices you can do, every one of them. We do one-on-one in Week 17. We do one-on-one in Week 17, everyone is there, we’re tired, we’re still going.”
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Zay Flowers of the Baltimore Ravens and head coach John Harbaugh stand on the sidelines during the national anthem before the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Acrisure Stadium on January 4, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)
“That’s why we got so many injuries,” Flowers said. “Because of how we worked, how we went. The load was heavy.”
Flowers was asked how the players handle the heavy workload. “We don’t,” he replied.
The two-time Pro Bowler showed off how many yards he ran in practice as a testament to what Harbaugh’s workouts are like.
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Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh walks on the field before an NFL football game against the New England Patriots at M&T Bank Stadium. The match was played on December 21, 2025 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)
“The first two games last year, bro, I (rushed for) 10,000 yards apiece,” Flowers said. “I rushed for 20,000 yards in two games and still ran for 4,000, 5,000, 4,000 (yards) in practice that week.”
New Ravens head coach Jesse Minter coached Harbaugh for four seasons, and Flowers was concerned about how practices would be run. The former Boston College star said the first thing he asked Minter was how practices would be run.
“Yes, I talked to the new coach,” Flowers said. “He worked with Harbaugh in 2017, so he knows how it is, how we work with Harbaugh. So he says, ‘You’ll get the job, but your body will be a little more relaxed. You’ll be fresher for the game.’ That was the first conversation I had with him: What will training be like?”
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Zay Flowers of the Baltimore Ravens throws a touchdown pass in the fourth quarter against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on January 4, 2026. (Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)
Even though practices under Harbaugh were difficult, Flowers was still very productive. He caught 86 passes for 1,211 yards and five touchdowns as the Ravens’ top receiver in 17 games last season.
Flowers’ comments could also be a warning about what New York Giants players should expect from Harbaugh in his first year.
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