Zay Flowers Becomes First Wide Receiver In Ravens History Named To Pro Bowl

Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers has become the first wide receiver in franchise history named to the Pro Bowl, according to the official team rosters that were unveiled by the NFL on Jan. 2.

The Ravens led all teams with nine selections, and the other eight Ravens were repeat honorees, though it’s a first as a Raven for running back Derrick Henry. In addition to Flowers and Henry, other Ravens named to the Pro Bowl Games were quarterback Lamar Jackson, fullback Patrick Ricard, center Tyler Linderbaum, defensive lineman Nnamdi Madubuike, linebacker Roquan Smith, cornerback Marlon Humphrey and safety Kyle Hamilton.

The Ravens (11-5) wrap up the 2024 season at M&T Bank Stadium against the Cleveland Browns (3-13) on Saturday, Jan. 4, at 4:30 p.m. With a win, the Ravens would capture their second straight AFC North title. The Ravens have already clinched a postseason berth for the sixth time in the past seven seasons.

Flowers this year leads the Ravens in catches (73) and receiving yards (1,047) and has become just the third Ravens receiver drafted by the team to record a 1,000-yard season with the Ravens. The others were Torrey Smith (2011) and Marquise Brown (2021).

Flowers’ five 100-yard receiving games in 2024 ties tight end Mark Andrews (2021) for the most in team history in a single season.

Technically, two other Ravens receivers made the Pro Bowl, but both Jermaine Lewis and Jacoby Jones did so as return specialists. Flowers is the first Raven to do so as a wide receiver.

Henry, Ricard, Smith and Hamilton were each named Pro Bowl starters. Jackson was one of three AFC quarterbacks selected, joining Buffalo’s Josh Allen, who was named the starter, and Cincinnati’s Joe Burrow.

Jackson and Allen are considered the front-runners for the league Most Valuable Player award, which was won by Jackson last season.

Jackson last week set the NFL record for career rushing yards by a quarterback (6,110) and he has a chance to set the NFL single-season record for passer rating. Jackson, who has set career highs with 3,955 passing yards and 39 touchdown passes this season, has a rating of 121.6 for the season. The NFL mark is 122.5, set by Aaron Rodgers in 2011.

The Pro Bowl honor is the fifth for Ricard, who becomes just the eighth player in franchise history to be named to the Pro Bowl five times with the team. This is also the fifth Pro Bowl award for Henry, who ranks second in the league in rushing (1,783 yards) and has set the Ravens single-season record with 16 touchdowns.

Both Hamilton and Linderbaum, the team’s first-round picks in the 2022 draft, made the Pro Bowl for the second straight season. Hamilton becomes the second Ravens defensive back to be a multi-time Pro Bowl selection in his first three seasons, with the other being Hall of Fame safety Ed Reed.

In addition to Hamilton and Linderbaum, Jackson, Madubuike and Smith are repeat honorees from 2023. Humphrey was not a 2023 pick but this is his fourth Pro Bowl honor in the past six seasons. He has a career-high six interceptions this year, including his first career pick-six touchdown which proved to be a pivotal play in the Ravens’ 34-17 win against Pittsburgh two weeks ago.

The Pro Bowl no longer plays a traditional football game and instead conducts a series of skills competitions and a final flag football game. This year’s events take place in Orlando Jan. 30-Feb. 2.

Photo Credit: Kenya Allen/PressBox

Bo Smolka

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