Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers has pointed to former head coach John Harbaugh’s intense training methods as a contributing factor to the team’s injury struggles.
Speaking on the “4th and South” podcast, Flowers described how the Ravens constantly practiced in complete protective gear without providing sufficient time for players to recover and address injuries. Harbaugh was dismissed following the 2025 regular season after nearly two decades with Baltimore and subsequently joined the New York Giants.
“However many practices in pads you can get, every single one. We’re doing one-on-ones in Week 17,” Flowers explained. “Week 17, we’re doing one-on-ones, everybody out there, we’re tired, we’re still going.”
The NFL’s collective bargaining agreement does allow padded practices but with specific limitations. Teams may conduct a maximum of 14 padded sessions during the regular season, with no more than one per week permitted. Additionally, 11 of these padded practices must occur within the first 11 weeks of the season.
Star quarterback Lamar Jackson frequently sat out practice sessions last year. When questioned about how players coped with Harbaugh’s training approach, Flowers responded bluntly: “We don’t. That’s why we had a lot of injuries, because of how we practiced, how we went. The load was heavy.”
New head coach Jesse Minter, a former Ravens assistant who replaced Harbaugh, is implementing modifications based on player feedback, according to Flowers.
“He knows how we worked with Harbaugh,” Flowers noted. “So, he’s like, ‘You’re going to get your work, but it’s going to be a little easier on your body. You’re going to be fresher for the game.’”
Minter previously served under Harbaugh with the Ravens from 2017-20 before joining Jim Harbaugh at Michigan as defensive coordinator in 2022 and 2023. After Jim Harbaugh captured a national championship with the Wolverines and returned to the NFL with the Chargers, he brought Minter along as his defensive coordinator for the 2024-25 seasons.
During his tenure, John Harbaugh guided the Ravens to six AFC North division championships and a Super Bowl victory following the 2012 season, finishing with a 193-124 overall record.
