Ravens host Saints without Zay Flowers as Baltimore seeks 2–0 start

Baltimore returns to M&T Bank Stadium on Sunday with a chance to start 2–0, but its home opener will require a different answer at wide receiver. Zay Flowers is out with a hamstring injury as the Ravens host the New Orleans Saints at 1 p.m. ET on CBS.

The Ravens opened the season with a 41–23 victory at Indianapolis. New Orleans arrives 0–1 after a 31–30 overtime loss at Detroit, a game that showed how much damage its passing offense can do even in defeat.

Baltimore adjusts without Flowers

Flowers delivered 150 receiving yards and a touchdown against the Colts before leaving with the injury. Baltimore ruled him out Saturday, and rookie receiver Ja’Kobi Lane is already on injured reserve with a wrist injury. Rashod Bateman now leads a receiving group that also includes Devontez Walker, LaJohntay Wester, Chris Moore and Elijah Sarratt.

That makes the distribution of Lamar Jackson’s targets a central question. Baltimore does not need one receiver to reproduce Flowers’ opening-day numbers, but it needs enough production elsewhere to keep New Orleans from concentrating on the running game.

Derrick Henry rushed for 144 yards and three touchdowns in Week 1. Another 98 rushing yards would move him past Eric Dickerson into ninth place on the NFL’s career rushing list. With the receiving corps short-handed, Henry’s ability to keep the offense on schedule takes on added importance.

Shough and Olave bring a test

Saints quarterback Tyler Shough completed 35 of 56 passes for 410 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions against Detroit. Chris Olave caught 10 passes for 182 yards, while Devaughn Vele added seven catches for 69 yards and a touchdown.

Those numbers give Baltimore a clear defensive priority: limit the space New Orleans’ receivers have to work and make Shough earn sustained drives. The interceptions also show why pressure and disciplined coverage matter alongside the need to prevent big gains.

Who is unavailable

The official game-day inactive list includes Flowers, linebacker Teddye Buchanan, guard Andrew Vorhees, tackle Gerad Lichtenhan and defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike for Baltimore. Joe Fagnano is designated the third quarterback.

New Orleans’ inactive list includes running back Kendre Miller, cornerback Decamerion Richardson, linebacker Isaiah Stalbird, defensive linemen Christen Miller and John Ridgeway III, and tackle Mason Murphy. Zach Wilson is designated the third quarterback.

This is Jesse Minter’s first regular-season home game as Baltimore’s head coach. After a 3–6 home record last season, the Ravens have an early opportunity to establish a better standard at M&T Bank Stadium.

Game information: New Orleans Saints at Baltimore Ravens — Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026, 1 p.m. ET, M&T Bank Stadium. Television: CBS.

Pregame report. Sources: Ravens game preview; Flowers injury update; Saints Week 1 game notes; official game-day inactives.