Baltimore Ravens tight end Dennis Pitta is hopeful to make a return sometime in the 2015 season after suffering a season-ending hip injury three weeks into the 2014 campaign.
However, it is being reported by Aaron Wilson of The Baltimore Sun that the tight end is likely to be put on the PUP list prior to training camp, which would cause him to miss the first six games of the regular season.
Since he has yet to be cleared to practice, this does not come as a surprise. While Pitta did participate in some individual drills during the offseason, the tight end is mending from his second hip surgery in two seasons. He also missed the final 12 games of the 2013 campaign with the same injury. The healing process from such a major surgery is painstakingly long.
Head coach John Harbaugh weighed in on Pitta’s status (via NFL.com):
“A couple of things are going to have to happen for him to play ultimately. No. 1, he has to be cleared by the doctors. And, No. 2, he has to decide if he wants to play because obviously there will be some risk involved. He hasn’t been cleared by the doctors.”
Pitta is currently playing under a five-year, $32 million contract that guarantees him $4 million cash no matter what he does in 2015. Fortunately for the Ravens, they chose wisely in the second round of the NFL draft by selecting tight end Maxx Williams from Minnesota.
Photo: USA Today Sports