Baltimore Ravens tight end Dennis Pitta has had his last two seasons marred by injury—the same injury, in fact. In 2013, Pitta dislocated and fractured his right hip during training camp, costing him the entire season. The injury reoccurred in September of last year and Pitta was place on injured reserve while he again underwent surgery for a hip both dislocated and fractured for a second time.
With the injury striking twice, it’s possible that it could happen again—a chronic condition that no amount of surgery or recovery time could prevent. Pitta’s hip is fully recovered, but that does not mean he’s cleared to play football. While he did attend the Ravens’ voluntary workouts, there’s no exact date just yet of when that may happen. It’s up to Pitta and his doctors, but Pitta isn’t about to rush things.
At a charity event on Saturday, Pitta (via Jeff Zrebiec of The Baltimore Sun) said that “We still have some time to be able to assess where I’m at,” but that “I sure hope that I’ll be on the field next year. That’s my hope; that’s my goal. We’ll just see if we can get there.”
Pitta emerged as one of close friend Joe Flacco’s top targets in 2012, with 61 catches for 669 yards and seven scores and appeared to be a centerpiece of their offense going forward, receiving a five-year $32 million contract in 2013. The injury, though, held him to only seven total games played in 2013 and 2014, during which he caught 36 passes for just 294 yards and one touchdown.
Even if Pitta doesn’t get clearance from his doctors to play this year, likely signaling the end of his NFL career, he will remain on the Ravens’ roster for 2015. Pitta is slated to make a fully-guaranteed $4 million this year no matter what, so even if the Ravens must place him on the physically unable to perform list or injured reserve again, he’ll be with the team.
If Pitta cannot play, then his role will be absorbed by second-year player Crockett Gillmore. While Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti said earlier this month that he is “praying for Dennis coming back,” he also added, “Don’t sleep on Crockett. He loves to stick his nose in there” and that “We loved what Crockett Gillmore did for us.”
So if Pitta cannot return, it does appear that the Ravens are comfortable at the tight end position without him. Still, it would be a huge disappointment for both Pitta and the Ravens if the promising tight end cannot resume his playing career.
Photo: USA Today Sports