Get ready, Flock Nation, because the AFC will be decided in less than 36 hours when the ball gets flying on Sunday in a game that will pit the two best teams in the conference, the Baltimore Ravens and the Miami Dolphins, against each other for the right to earning a bye week in the playoffs.
Sadly, the Ravens might not have all of their superior playmakers on the field come kick-off time as the franchise listed as many as four starters as "questionable" to play in their final injury report released on Friday.
Injury report and game status vs. Dolphins. pic.twitter.com/WTL4x5YL3I
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) December 29, 2023
Most worryingly, wide receiver Zay Flowers and safety Kyle Hamilton were listed as questionable due to calf and knee injuries, respectively.
Flowers, who leads the Ravens with 74 receptions, 752 yards, and four touchdowns in his rookie season in Baltimore, missed two days of practice at the start of the week while donning a walking boot but participated on a limited basis on Friday.
Hamilton, the reigning AFC Defensive Player of the Week, sandwiched a limited session on Thursday with a couple of DNPs one day after and one day before that, leading to ultimately getting the "questionable" tag.
Cornerback Brandon Stephens, another questionable player for the game, did not practice on Thursday or Friday due to an ankle issue. He joins linebacker Del'Shawn Phillips on the "questionable" list, the latter one suffering shoulder issues and missing the final two practices heading into the weekend.
Jalyn Armour-Davis is the other member of the secondary impacted by injuries as he was ruled out with concussion symptoms.
Coach John Harbaugh addressed the situation following Friday's practice, saying "It’s the time of year," and adding "Everybody who can go will be out there." We'll see how that goes.
Guard Kevin Zeitler, dealing with knee and quad issues throughout the week, was upgraded to a full participant on Friday but remains questionable to play. On the other hand, fellow combo-O-lineman Patrick Mekari left the injury report after logging a full participation on Friday after clearing the concussion protocol in time for Sunday's matchup.
On the Miami Dolphins' side, star wide receiver Jaylen Waddle (seventh in the NFL with 1,014 receiving yards) was ruled out with a high ankle sprain. Right guard Robert Hunt is doubtful due to a hamstring issue.
Six other starters for the Dolphins are listed as questionable, including cornerbacks Jalen Ramsey (knee) and Xavien Howard (hip/thumb), as well as safety Jevon Holland (knees). Ramsey was limited in Friday's practice and subsequently added to the injury report, but he's expected to play.