WR Zay Flowers lays blame for Ravens injuries on John Harbaugh practices

“That’s why we had a lot of injuries,” Flowers said, “because of how we practiced, how we went. The load was heavy.”

Still, Baltimore rallied late in the season. The Ravens went 7-3 after the poor start and needed a victory in the season finale at Pittsburgh to clinch the division title and a playoff spot. But kicker Tyler Loop missed a 44-yard field goal attempt at the end of a 26-24 defeat.

Flowers, a third-year pro, avoided the injury bug. He started all 17 games, turning in career highs of 86 catches and 1,211 yards on the way to a second consecutive Pro Bowl.

In the offseason, Baltimore hired Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter to replace Harbaugh. Minter worked for four years as a defensive assistant for Harbaugh and the Ravens.

Flowers said Minter assured him practice philosophy will change under the new regime.

“He worked with Harbaugh in 2017, so he knows how it was, how we worked with Harbaugh,” Flowers said. “So he says, ‘You’re going to get your work, but it’s going to be a little easier on your body. You’re going to be fresher for the game.’ That was the first talk I had with him: How’s practice going to look?”