With a series of heavy-duty matchups in the NFL Divisional Round of the playoffs, a few teams will be shorthanded on the injury front.
The Baltimore Ravens are set to take on the Buffalo Bills in a high-stakes divisional matchup — and they will likely be doing it without their star receiver. Pro Bowl wide receiver Zay Flowers missed practice again on Friday and has been deemed doubtful for Sunday’s matchup.
Flowers suffered a knee injury during the regular season finale two weeks ago, and has not returned to practice since. He missed all of last week, including the Ravens’ Wild Card win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, with the injury, and looks set to do it again this week.
The Ravens had been initially optimistic about Flowers’ injury, with head coach John Harbaugh telling reporters initially that the injury was “day-to-day” but not season-ending.
Despite Harbaugh telling reporters Friday, “I think he’ll have a chance,” it appears they will be without Flowers for a second straight playoff game.
Sean McVay expects CB Ahkello Witherspoon to play
Rams cornerback and defensive playmaker Ahkello Witherspoon was a limited participant in Friday’s practice after sitting out Thursday’s session. He was listed as questionable on the team’s injury report.
However, head coach Sean McVay expects the eight-year veteran to play in Sunday’s divisional round matchup with the Eagles.
Witherspoon, 29, injured his thigh in the third quarter of the Rams’ wild-card playoff game versus the Vikings. He pulled up while pursuing Minnesota’s T.J. Hockenson on a 26-yard touchdown.
Prior to leaving the game, Witherspoon forced a fumble and registered three tackles with one tackle for loss and a quarterback hit. The Rams recently made him a starter in place of Cobie Durant opposite Darious Williams in the secondary.
In the regular season, Witherspoon had 31 tackles with one interception and nine passes defensed in 13 games (five starts). He’s in his second season with the Rams.
Here’s the rest of the divisional round injury report.
Inactives for Saturday’s games
HOUSTON TEXANS
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TE Teagan Quitoriano
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RB J.J. Taylor
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LB Devin White
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DE Jerry Hughes
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C/G Kendrick Green
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G Nick Broeker
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DT Kurt Hinish
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
WASHINGTON COMMANDERS
DETROIT LIONS
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G Kevin Zeitler (hamstring): out
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DL Pat O’Connor (calf): out
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CB Ennis Rakestraw Jr. (hamstring/illness): out
LOS ANGELES RAMS
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DE Larrell Murchison (foot): out
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ILB Troy Reeder (hamstring): out
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OL Alaric Jackson (chest): questionable
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NT Bobby Brown III (shoulder): questionable
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CB Ahkello Witherspoon (thigh): questionable
