Boston College Professional Athletes

Zay Flowers' Big Day Ends With a Brutal Asterisk

Boston College's most prominent NFL name had the stage set for a statement game — and then his body pulled the rug out from under him.

Zay Flowers opened the 2026 season against the Indianapolis Colts the way Ravens fans have long dreamed: 5 catches, 150 receiving yards, and a touchdown in Baltimore's 41-23 blowout win. It was a performance that had the makings of a genuine breakout moment — career-level production in the season's first act. Then a hamstring gave out, and the script flipped.

Ravens head coach Jesse Minter initially called Flowers day-to-day, leaving open a window for Week 2 availability. That window closed firmly on Saturday when Baltimore officially ruled him out for the Saints game. Flowers did return to practice on Friday — a mildly encouraging sign — but it wasn't enough to clear him, and the team listed him as doubtful before confirming the scratch. The hamstring injury is the same one that nagged Flowers during training camp, which adds a layer of concern beyond just this week's absence.

In his place, the Ravens elevated Elijah Sarratt — the former Indiana Hoosiers national champion who didn't see the field in Week 1 — to fill the void in Baltimore's receiver rotation. It's a significant step down in proven production, but the Ravens' offensive infrastructure softens the blow somewhat. For Flowers, the priority is getting healthy; the bigger fear is whether this hamstring issue becomes a recurring problem.

Around the Rest of the BC Alumni Circuit

Flowers wasn't the only Eagle in action during the week.

In Denver, defensive end Zach Allen quietly put together a solid Monday night showing against the Chiefs, registering two tackles (including a sack) in the Broncos' 10-31 loss. The production was a bright spot on an otherwise rough night for Denver.

AJ Dillon, now with the Panthers, carried the ball for 28 yards in Carolina's 37-59 beatdown at the hands of the Bears — a tough debut for a team that clearly has a long road ahead in 2026.

On the roster-move front, cornerback Isaac Yiadom was signed from the Commanders' practice squad to the active 53-man roster ahead of Washington's Week 2 trip to Dallas. It's a depth move, but it keeps the BC corner in the mix at the NFL level.

Meanwhile, offensive tackle Ozzy Trapilo of the Bears practiced in full this week, clearing a hurdle on his return from injury — though Chicago has little urgency to rush him back given Braxton Jones' strong Week 1 at left tackle.

And over in Houston, wide receiver Lewis Bond earned a game-day roster spot for the Texans after Nico Collins went down with an injury, giving the BC wideout a chance to show what he can do when opportunity knocks.

The week was unambiguously Flowers' story — just not the ending anyone wanted.

Three Boston College alumni are commanding attention as the 2026 NFL regular season gets underway — and the storylines couldn't be more different.

Flowers Back on the Field in Baltimore

The most relieving news for Ravens fans: Zay Flowers returned to practice Thursday after missing nearly two weeks due to an injury. The update was described as encouraging by the organization, a meaningful development given how central Flowers is to Baltimore's offensive identity alongside Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry.

The timing matters beyond just Flowers. New Ravens offensive coordinator Declan Doyle is already under a microscope after inheriting an offense that ranked 16th in the league last season — a puzzling finish for a unit with that much talent. Getting Flowers healthy and into a rhythm before the opener is exactly the kind of early win Doyle needed. For the BC wideout, staying on the field has always been the prerequisite for everything else.

Trapilo Positioned as Bears' Starting Left Tackle

In Chicago, Ozzy Trapilo's path to the starting lineup just got considerably cleaner. The Bears cut multiple left tackle competitors in final roster cuts, leaving the second-year BC product in what Heavy Sports called "the best position they could possibly be" at the position. That's a significant vote of confidence — and a significant opportunity — for a player who was still finding his footing in the league.

Left tackle is one of the most scrutinized positions in football, and Trapilo inheriting the job outright means protecting the blindside for Chicago's franchise quarterback. For a Bears offense looking to take a step forward, the health and performance of their offensive line will be foundational. Trapilo is now squarely at the center of that story.

Hunter Long Lands in Arizona via Trade

Meanwhile, tight end Hunter Long is headed to the desert. The Jacksonville Jaguars agreed to trade Long to the Arizona Cardinals just ahead of the season, according to Pro Football Talk. Long — who spent time with the Dolphins and Cowboys before landing in Jacksonville — now joins a Cardinals roster that already includes fellow BC alum Cam Horsley.

The trade is modest in league-wide terms but meaningful for Long personally. At 27, he's still carving out his place in the NFL, and a fresh start in Arizona gives him another opportunity to establish himself as a reliable option in the passing game.

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Three players, three very different situations — but all three BC alumni enter the 2026 season with something to prove. Flowers is chasing health, Trapilo is chasing a starting job he's now been handed, and Long is chasing continuity he hasn't quite found yet. Week 1 will tell the first chapter of each story.

Boston College Eagles in the NFL | Week of Aug. 23–29

Two Boston College alumni found themselves on opposite ends of the NFL preseason spectrum this week — one turning heads on the field, the other packing his locker.

Hunter Long Makes His Case in Jacksonville

Tight end Hunter Long gave Jacksonville Jaguars fans something to talk about in the team's preseason shutout of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Long paced the Jaguars' receiving room with two catches for 47 yards as Jacksonville rolled to a 19-0 win, with Carter Bradley adding a touchdown throw through the air. For a tight end competing for roster real estate, a performance that leads the team in receiving yards — even in August — is exactly the kind of statement that sticks with coaches during final cuts. Long continues to make a case for himself as a reliable option in Jacksonville's TE room.

Will Harris Cut Loose by Washington

The news was less encouraging for safety Will Harris. The Commanders released the Boston College product as Washington finalized a series of roster moves that included signing linebacker Boogie Basham and placing LB Drake Jackson on injured reserve. Harris had appeared in Washington's preseason Week 2 activities, drawing mention in the team's internal notes, but it wasn't enough to hold his spot on the roster. The move ends Harris's run with Washington and leaves him looking for a new home as teams around the league trim toward their 53-man rosters.

The Bigger Picture

The contrasting fortunes of Long and Harris capture the brutal arithmetic of late August in the NFL. Long's 47-yard showing keeps him in the conversation at a position where teams are always hunting for a pass-catching weapon they can trust. Harris, a veteran safety who has bounced between rosters, now faces the familiar scramble of free agency timing — released just as squads are locking in.

Beyond the two headliners, Boston College has one of the deeper alumni footprints in the league. Chris Lindstrom remains entrenched as one of the better guards in the NFC with Atlanta, Zay Flowers enters his third season as a key piece of Baltimore's passing attack, and Harold Landry III joins the Patriots as New England continues its roster rebuild. Matt Milano, when healthy, gives Buffalo one of the sharper linebacker minds in the AFC. The Eagles' pipeline runs deep — Long and Harris are just the latest names navigating the league's most unforgiving time of year.