Ravens’ Zay Flowers Climbs to No. 2 as Jackson Returns to Practice
Pro Football Focus elevated Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers to No. 2 in its weekly wide receiver rankings, and the team reported that quarterback Lamar Jackson was a full practice participant on Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026. The Ravens’ official site published a Late for Work column on Oct. 29, 2026, that also highlighted ESPN pundits debating the current state of the AFC North. ESPN placed rookie offensive lineman Vega Ioane at No. 5 on its midseason rookie list, recognizing his versatility and impact this season.
ESPN writers remain split on how the AFC North will finish. Dan Graziano wrote that he is skeptical of the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers, and expressed concerns about the Ravens beyond Jackson’s availability, noting Baltimore sits 4-3 and has lost two games without its starter. Jeremy Fowler wrote he backed the Ravens to win the division if Jackson returns and remains healthy, calling the division among the most balanced in the league.
PFF’s Gordon McGuinness noted Flowers has overcome missed time to emerge as one of the league’s top receivers, and that he is on pace to break the franchise single-season receiving yards record by a substantial margin. McGuinness also pointed out Flowers has missed the equivalent of two games while his starting quarterback has missed three and a half games this season. The Late for Work column added that Flowers could be poised for another strong performance against Buffalo, citing his seven-catch, 143-yard, one-touchdown outing in last year’s season opener in that stadium and the Bills’ 31st-ranked pass defense this season.
ESPN’s Jeff Legwold placed Vega Ioane fifth among rookies, noting the rookie has logged 196 snaps at center and 182 at right guard while filling in for injured teammates. The column reported Ioane suffered a sprained MCL in the Week 7 loss to Cincinnati but that the injury is considered short term. Ravens coach Jesse Minter was quoted as saying he has not ruled out Ioane playing against the Bills, praising Ioane’s mentality and versatility.
The Late for Work column also relayed Graziano’s broader concerns about Baltimore, including questions about Derrick Henry’s effectiveness in short-yardage and the defense’s second-half performance in the loss to Cincinnati. Graziano wrote that the Ravens’ two losses without Jackson—to Cleveland and Cincinnati—have handed those clubs a tiebreaker edge within the division. The piece noted the new coaching staff led by Minter has yet to be tested over a full season and that consistency remains an open question.
NFL Sports Blog Take
Zay Flowers’ rise in PFF’s rankings underscores his production despite disrupted quarterback continuity; the metrics cited in the Late for Work column indicate he has been a primary playmaker when on the field. Lamar Jackson practicing fully on Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026, is the clearest positive development for Baltimore’s outlook, since pundits point to his availability as the main determinant of the Ravens’ divisional prospects. Vega Ioane’s placement among the top rookies reflects the front office’s depth work paying dividends amid center injuries, though his recent sprained MCL will be a short-term monitoring point. The Ravens’ ability to stabilize the run game and shore up late-game defensive play will likely decide whether the team moves up in the AFC North standings as the season progresses.