Latest news with #Monken
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Baltimore Ravens Update Zay Flowers' Injury Recovery
Baltimore Ravens Update Zay Flowers' Injury Recovery originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Baltimore Ravens wideout Zay Flowers sat on the sideline while his team was bounced out of the postseason for the second straight year. The year before it was partly thanks to a late fumble by Flowers, but this time he wasn't on the field due to a knee injury suffered in the Ravens' 35-10 win over the Cleveland Browns. Advertisement He missed all of the postseason last year and continues to rehab. He was able to avoid surgery and is present at the team's OTAs. Offensive coordinator Todd Monken gave an update, saying he's got "no limits" from his injury, and has Monken itching to get him back on the field to utilize him more in the offense in 2025. 'We've just got to get him the ball more,' Monken said, via the team's website. 'He's an unbelievable football player. He's not only an outside receiver who has elite route-running skills, but he's unbelievable with the ball in his hands. So you have a guy who really plays two spots. I'm not sure he can use that in his contract negotiations. But I'm just saying you can use him in a variety of roles to get him the ball, which allows your volume to go up. He's a volume catch guy. "You can use him in novelty screens, getting him the ball down the field. I expect him to take another leap. When you make it to the Pro Bowl, or you're an All-Pro, you're pretty good.' Advertisement In the 2023 postseason, Flowers fumbled away a potential touchdown in the loss to Kansas City. So not participating in the 2024 playoffs was "killing him." "It was killing me, for sure," Flowers said following the 27-25 loss to Buffalo. "I want to be out there every game. I want to go through everything they go through, so not being out there, it took a little toll on me, just to watch that and not be able to participate and do what I wanted to do and help the team." He'll be eligible for a contract extension after the 2025 campaign, and increased usage in the offense could be a useful negotiating tool. Related: 'Remarkably Consistent' Ravens Dubbed Second-Most Complete Team Related: Ravens Star Defender Awkwardly Due For Improved 2025 This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 4, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Baltimore Ravens' Zay Flowers Has 'No Limits' From Knee Injury
Baltimore Ravens' Zay Flowers Has 'No Limits' From Knee Injury originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Zay Flowers missed the Baltimore Ravens' 2024 playoff run with a knee injury. Flowers was able to avoid surgery during the offseason and is on track to be fully healthy for a 2025 campaign. Advertisement "My knee's great," Flowers said on Tuesday. "I feel 100%. I feel like I'm ready to go, ready for the season, no limits." Flowers' return to form has caused offensive coordinator Todd Monken to think of new ways to utilize Flowers. 'We've just got to get him the ball more,' Monken said, via the Ravens' website. 'He's an unbelievable football player. He's not only an outside receiver that has elite route-running skills, but he's unbelievable with the ball in his hands. So you have a guy that really plays two spots. I'm not sure he can use that in his contract negotiations. But I'm just saying you can use him in a variety of roles to get him the ball, which allows your volume to go up. He's a volume catch guy. You can use him in novelty screens, getting him the ball down the field. I expect him to take another leap. When you make it to the Pro Bowl, or you're an All-Pro, you're pretty good." Monken made mention of Flowers' contract, as Flowers is extension eligible for the first time in 2025. If Monken can feature Flowers in the offense more and he can stay healthy, the former first-round pick could be looking for a hefty payday. Advertisement Flowers posted his first career 1,000 yard season in 2024, talking 1,059 yards and four touchdowns on 74 receptions, earning his first Pro Bowl appearance. It's not just Monken who wants to get Flowers more involved. According to Flowers, Lamar Jackson is already trying to take team bonding to the next level in 2025, bringing the group together as a whole and developing more chemistry. "This year, he wants to do a lot more meeting, he wants to do team stuff, do a lot more personal stuff with us just to get that team comradery to a good level," Flowers said. Flowers and Jackson worked out together in South Florida during the offseason, as they have done in years past. Flowers said those extra workout sessions are always beneficial to getting on the same page with his quarterback. Advertisement "It's just getting our timing down," Flowers said. "Like if we're running routes, he'll say: 'Run it this way' or 'I like how you ran it this way.' It's talking a lot and detailing the small things that he wants to get down." Related: Ravens Update Zay Flowers' Injury Recovery Related: Former Ravens Kicker To Sell Baltimore-Area Home This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 4, 2025, where it first appeared.
NBC Sports
7 days ago
- Business
- NBC Sports
Zay Flowers has "no limits" from knee injury, Ravens want to get him the ball more
Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers missed the team's playoff action with a knee injury, but he avoided surgery this offseason and is on track to be back in his familiar place in the offense come the start of the 2025 season. Flowers has been practicing at the team's OTAs and said on Tuesday that he is working with 'no limits' at this point in the offseason. The return of a healthy Flowers has offensive coordinator Todd Monken thinking about ways to use him more often this year. 'We've just got to get him the ball more,' Monken said, via the team's website. 'He's an unbelievable football player. He's not only an outside receiver that has elite route-running skills, but he's unbelievable with the ball in his hands. So you have a guy that really plays two spots. I'm not sure he can use that in his contract negotiations. But I'm just saying you can use him in a variety of roles to get him the ball, which allows your volume to go up. He's a volume catch guy. You can use him in novelty screens, getting him the ball down the field. I expect him to take another leap. When you make it to the Pro Bowl, or you're an All-Pro, you're pretty good.' Monken mentioned Flowers's contract and the wideout will be eligible for an extension for the first time after the 2025 season. If Monken does increase his usage and he stays healthy, it will be an effective negotiating point for the 2023 first-round pick.
USA Today
27-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
7 storylines to watch as Ravens OTAs get underway at the Under Armour Performance Center
7 storylines to watch as Ravens OTAs get underway at the Under Armour Performance Center We're looking at seven key storylines to watch as the Baltimore Ravens take the field for seven OTA sessions and a three day minicamp in June The NFL announced its nine-week offseason workout routine for all 32 teams back in April, and the Ravens will now take the field for the final sessions of Phase Three, with up to ten days of organized team practice activities, or 'OTAs.' The training programs are divided into three phases: one mandatory minicamp for the entire roster and one rookie minicamp for each group. No live contact is permitted, but 7-on-7, 9-on-7, and 11-on-11 drills are allowed. With OTAs kicking off on Tuesday, we're looking at seven storylines to watch. OTAs, Mandatory Minicamp The OTAs are divided into phases, and the Ravens will convene for on-field sessions seven times before the mandatory minicamp: May 27-29, June 3, June 5-6, June 9-12. There will be three days of mandatory minicamp, from June 17-19. More Todd Monken Last season, the 28-year-old Jackson set career highs in touchdown passes (41), passing yards (4,172), and quarterback rating (119.6) while throwing just four interceptions. Monken is entering his third season coaching Jackson and expects the quarterback's growth to continue and reach another level as he enters the prime of his career. Under Monken, the Ravens offense led the NFL in both rushing yards (3,189) and yards per rush (5.8) this past season. Roster battles The Ravens won't have too many starting spots up for grabs, with left guard, linebacker, and safety being spots that'll see potential roster battles. Andrew Vorhees lost his starting job to Patrick Mekari last year, but he's back and will battle again, and is the favorite to start at left guard. They re-signed veteran Ben Cleveland and drafted Emery Jones and Garrett Dellinger. Trenton Simpson will battle Teddye Buchanan and Jacob Hummel. At safety, Malaki Starks has the inside track as a rookie, but the Ravens like to employ three safeties, and Beau Brade could battle Sanoussi Kane for the spot vacated by Ar'Darius Washington. Who will show up? Only the minicamp is mandatory, and the Ravens don't fret when their stars aren't in attendance. Lamar Jackson, Kyle Hamilton, and others all missed time last summer, and the same could happen with Mark Andrews, Isaiah Likely, and other potential free agents or players with contract issues. Jackson, for his part, is looking for a new contract, and staying away until the practices and games count is a viable tactic for a player with a $43.5 million cap hit that rises $30 million over the next two years. Rise of a new kicker Justin Tucker is out, and for the first time since 2012, the Ravens will have a whole competition at the kicker position. Sixth-round pick Tyler Loop will battle undrafted free agent John Hoyland from Wyoming. It's a premium position, and one of the few question marks on a team with Super Bowl aspirations. Rookie impact Malaki Starks and Mike Green are the headliners, and with Ar'Darius Washington's Achilles injury, the first-round pick from Georgia will be the main attraction. Starks is a Swiss army knife that should hit the ground running, allowing for Kyle Hamilton to be even more versatile. Fourth-round inside linebacker Teddye Buchanan will battle Trenton Simpson for the starting weakside linebacker job. Sixth-round cornerbacks Bilhal Kone and Robert Longerbeam and sixth-round defensive lineman Aeneas Peebles will look to prove they deserve a role in Zach Orr's defensive rotation. Cooper Rush Baltimore has a new backup quarterback after agreeing to a free-agent deal with former Cowboys signal-caller Cooper Rush. According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the two-year, $6.2 million contract can reach $12.2 million. Baltimore's backup quarterback for the last two years was Josh Johnson, but he signed with Washington. Former Kentucky quarterback Devin Leary will be the third quarterback on the roster, and the Ravens could bring in competition for that spot. Rush has won nine of 14 starts in his career, putting him near the top of the backup market. Last season, Rush replaced an injured Dak Prescott (hamstring) from Week 11 on, tossing 12 touchdowns and four interceptions while averaging only 6.1 yards per attempt.
USA Today
21-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Former Georgia DB Malaki Starks earns praise from key Ravens' coach
Former Georgia DB Malaki Starks earns praise from key Ravens' coach Former Georgia Bulldogs safety Malaki Starks is another one of the many uber-talented defenders selected in the first-round of the 2025 NFL draft. The Baltimore Ravens selected him with the 27th pick and he's already earning some buzz. Including some praise from Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken. Monken, who was previously an offensive coordinator for Georgia, spoke highly about Starks after his NFL combine interview: "He's on point right off the bat. I mean, he's eyes wide awake, he's smart," Monken said. "Malaki is a stud. From the moment — like, you could tell in recruiting him at Georgia, you could tell he was wide awake. Great family. Like, stud. It's like, alright, this guy's different. Like, whatever skillset he's got, he's going to maximize it." Starks was recruited by Georgia as the No. 4 prospect in the nation and he lived up to the hype. He started his career with an amazing interception on Oregon quarterback Bo Nix and only got better from there. Overall, he ended his Georgia career with 197 career tackles along with 17 passes defended, six interceptions, and six tackles for loss. He earned a unanimous first-team All-American and first-team All-SEC selection in 2023. In 2024, he was a second-team All-American and a Jim Thorpe Award finalist once again.
