Baltimore Ravens: Dennis Pitta Breaks Silence, But No Word on Future

By Joe Serpico | Apr 26, 2015

Dennis Pitta finally broke his silence yesterday.

The problem is the Baltimore Ravens still do not have any clarity on whether or not he will be playing this season.

Pitta was in attendance with quarterback Joe Flacco at Al Packer’s White Marsh Ford to benefit Special Olympics Maryland, and of course, the media asked him about playing in 2015.

"“We still have some time to be able to assess where I’m at. 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’s hip is fully recovered, but the team has left the decision up to him and his team of doctors on whether or not he will try to make another comeback. Pitta has had two surgeries to repair a fractured and dislocated hip over the past two years, but has been at the Under Armour Performance Center working out with teammates.

The original injury occurred in training camp in 2013 when Pitta landed awkwardly and fractured and dislocated his right hip. Pitta shocked a lot of people by returning for the final four games of the season, catching 20 passes for 169 yards and a touchdown.

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The team was assured that the injury was unlikely to happen again, and signed Pitta to a five-year, $32 million deal in the offseason.

Then in a game against the Cleveland Browns last September, Pitta caught a pass, turned up field and went down with no contact. He was carted off the field and that is the last we have seen of his playing career. Everyone is hoping that sight is not the last we see of the BYU product on the football field.

The 29-year-old has played in just seven games over the past two seasons, but would be a welcomed addition for the Ravens. Owen Daniels’ departure has left a significant void at the position. He led the Ravens in receptions for a tight end, catching 48 passes for 527 yards and four touchdowns. Crockett Gilmore, last year’s third-round selection, finished with 10 catches for 121 yards and a score, but is not ready to be a starter.

In a conference call with fans last month, owner Steve Bisciotti stated that the Ravens “absolutely need a tight end.” He downplayed the need to draft one early, but suggested that they look for a tight end in the third or fourth round. After all, Pitta was a fourth-round selection himself. On our full mock draft, we have the Ravens selecting Notre Dame TE Ben Koyack with the 136^th pick.

“I’m just happy to be back here working with the guys,” Pitta said. “I’m feeling good in workouts. We’ll just take it one day at a time.”

Head Coach John Harbaugh is like all of us in this situation. He is waiting for the final word from Pitta, and the team can move on from there. Pitta is guaranteed $4 million in 2015 under his contract regardless of whether he plays or not.

“We have nothing to lose by just letting it play out,” Harbaugh said at the NFL Combine in February. “He’s got a guaranteed contract for next year. So, financially he’s in good shape. We’ll just have to see where it goes. We’ll just plan accordingly.”

Everyone in the organization is hopeful that Pitta comes back, but the lack of activity is worrisome. The Ravens were rumored to be interested in Rob Housler and Scott Chandler, but each signed elsewhere. The Ravens should take a look at Jermaine Gresham, but he is rehabbing from a surgery of his own. There is also a group of tight ends in the draft that the Ravens could target.

So for now, we wait.

“I’m just happy to be back here working with the guys,” Pitta said. “I’m feeling good in workouts. We’ll just take it one day at a time.”

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