The Baltimore Ravens enter Week 3 with a frustrating 0-2 record and wide receiver Zay Flowers recently took to Twitter (or X) to voice his displeasure with the offense. A first-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, Flowers finished his rookie season with 77 receptions for 858 yards and five touchdowns while starting in 16 games. His yards and receptions led the team and he played an instrumental role in leading Baltimore to the AFC Championship Game. While he’s still the top option in the passing attack, he made it clear that he’s not happy with his usage.
Baltimore lost their Week 2 matchup with the Las Vegas Raiders despite holding a 10-point lead through the fourth quarter. Zay Flowers believes that he should have received more targets down the stretch, as the wide receiver took to Twitter to repost a tweet criticizing his usage.
Ravens WR Zay Flowers retweeted a post stating that the team didn’t involve him in the second have after a big first half performance. pic.twitter.com/eEiOMO0XST
— Ravens Nation 𝙇𝙄𝙑𝙀 (@LIVERavenNation) September 16, 2024
Zay Flowers Criticizes Ravens On Twitter, Wants More Targets
Zay Flower shouldn’t have reposted the complaint on Twitter but, for what it’s worth, he has a point. The wide receiver finished Week 2 with seven receptions for 91 yards and a touchdown, but almost all of that production came in the first half. After halftime, the former first-round pick recorded a single eight-yard touchdown reception. More targets could have kept the ball in the Ravens hands and prevented the Ravens from blowing a 10-point lead to the lowly Raiders.
Head coach John Harbaugh didn’t directly address the Zay Flowers Twitter post. When asked about the situation, Harbaugh said that he wasn’t aware of any issue. He also went out of his way to complement Flowers while adding that the two have been in contact with one another.
“Not that I’m aware of. Zay [Flowers] has been great. [I’ve had] great conversations with Zay. I’m not aware of any of the social media stuff.”
More Frustrated Wide Receivers
Anyone following the Ravens for a few years knows that Zay Flowers is not the first Baltimore wide receiver to voice his frustrations on Twitter. Back in 2020, then-Ravens wide receiver Marquise Brown publicly spoke out against then-offensive coordinator Greg Roman and his uncreative, run-heavy offensive approach. Tweeting “What’s the point of having souljas if you never use them,” this post effectively spelled the beginning of the end of his time with the Ravens. Roughly a year after the tweet, Baltimore traded Brown to the Arizona Cardinals for a first-round pick.
It’s far too early to assume this Twitter post will lead Zay Flowers down the same road as Marquise Brown. After all, Greg Roman is now with the Los Angeles Chargers and current offensive coordinator Todd Monken had a strong first season calling plays for the Ravens. However, this is a situation worth monitoring. Flowers is Baltimore’s best receiver by a comfortable margin and should receive more targets throughout the course of a game. Chances are, Monken will adjust course as the team tries to dig their way out of their 0-2 hole. However, if Flowers keeps disappearing down the stretch, the wide receiver will likely continue to voice his frustration.
Main Photo: Reggie Hildred – USA Today Sports
