Ravens WR Zay Flowers active vs. Cowboys, likely limited; Rio field conditions a concern

Zay Flowers is active for the Ravens' game against the Cowboys in Rio de Janeiro, giving Lamar Jackson his No. 1 target back after the receiver spent the week testing a hamstring injury. Baltimore confirmed the decision Sunday after Flowers worked out on the field pregame to see if he could play.

Flowers was listed as a game-time decision after missing the first two practices of the week and being limited Friday. He was said to look good on the field as the Ravens weighed the call, and the team ultimately cleared him to go — though the expectation is that his usage will be managed.

Garafolo reported Flowers was told to expect roughly 20-30 plays, a sign the Ravens will be careful with their dynamic playmaker rather than hand him a full workload. It's a meaningful boost for an offense that leaned on Rashod Bateman as the No. 1 receiver last week; Flowers has been far and away Baltimore's most productive wideout, with 5 catches for 150 yards and a touchdown in one half this season.

The field itself has become part of the story in Rio. Multiple Ravens players, including Malaki Starks, brought two sets of cleats out to test the surface, and Kyle Hamilton was seen cutting up grass with nearly every cut during warmups — a sign the turf is loose and could contribute to footing issues or injury risk on a day when Baltimore is already managing a hamstring-limited receiver. The conditions add an extra layer of uncertainty to Flowers' usage in the game.