Zay Flowers is preparing for his second NFL season after an impressive rookie campaign ended in heartbreak. The Baltimore Ravens wide receiver remains haunted by the AFC Championship Game.
Late in a 17-10 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, Flowers lost a fumble while reaching for the end zone. Nearly four months later, he told reporters Wednesday that he hasn’t forgotten about the bitter ending.
“Honestly, I still ain’t get over it. I still think about it,” Flowers said, per Sarah Ellison. “I know next year we have a chance to get back there and try to make it to the Super Bowl. That’s why I’m working hard every day and going hard every day to get back to that moment.”
Flowers flourished during his first season, catching 77 of 108 targets for 858 yards and five touchdowns. Although his turnover derailed a comeback attempt against Kansas City, the wideout kept the Ravens alive with 115 receiving yards and their only touchdown.
“I feel like I’ve got another step. I feel like I could be one of the best receivers in this league,” Flowers said after the January loss. “I’m not going to let one moment define me. I’ll just use that as a slingshot.”
The 2023 first-round pick returns as the No. 1 wide receiver for reigning MVP Lamar Jackson. Odell Beckham Jr. signed with the Miami Dolphins, and no other returning wideout reached 400 yards last season.
Yet Flowers, Derrick Henry, and a healthy Mark Andrews could help steer Baltimore back into the title picture this season.