The Baltimore Ravens couldn't have asked for a better first half in their Week 1 opener. The passing offense was dominant, with QB Lamar Jackson hitting 12 for 18 throws for 229 yards and a score with an 128.2 passer rating. His primary target was No. 1 receiver Zay Flowers, operating primarily out of the slot. Out of his 20 first-half plays, Flowers lined up in the backfield twice, and the slot 11 times. He turned those opportunities into five catches on six targets for an explosive 150 yards and a score.
But Flowers came up injured near the halftime break and never returned. He then missed Week 2's action with the hamstring injury. Now the big question arrives, will Flowers play in the team's Week 3 contest in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil against
a very injured Cowboys' secondary?
If Flowers could play, he'd face off against a Dallas defense that has struggled mightily in the first two weeks. They will have to commit extra resources to try and limit Derrick Henry and Lamar Jackson's scramble ability. They'll also be without their top two centerfield safeties in Malik Hooker and PJ Locke, and without boundary corner Cobie Durant. Those injuries will force first-round rookie Caleb Downs out of the slot and back to safety, meaning everything in their secondary is compromised.
Flowers didn't practice on Wednesday or Thursday and was limited on Friday. The team placed him as questionable.
We held a walkthrough on Friday, the report is a practice estimation. pic.twitter.com/xPltqxJBK9
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) September 25, 2026
Can he go? Here's him doing some promotional work, which would lead one to believe he's going to play.
O zagueiro Léo Ortiz do Flamengo tentando parar Zay Flowers, principal recebedor do Baltimore Ravens.
— Gols do Brasileirão ⚽️🇧🇷 (@golsdobrasil1) September 26, 2026
🎥 @NFLBrasil pic.twitter.com/o09HDW9VVy
Another factor though is the fact that the Maracana Stadium field has been under intense scrutiny. It's supposedly extremely slick and has undergone an entire week of work to try to improve things. Still, on Saturday, it doesn't look ideal.
A close up look at the field at Maracanã Stadium.#Cowboys #CowboysNation pic.twitter.com/tNKgkqB9md
— 105.3 The FAN (@1053thefan) September 26, 2026
Flowers is going to test himself pre-game to determine whether he will play or not. If he does, it's hard not to see the field as a potential spoiler, along with the fact he might be on a pitch count. Despite the intriguing matchup, fantasy owners with options may want to go in a different direction.
This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Is Ravens WR Zay Flowers playing today vs Cowboys?
