Dennis Pitta will not play today
Baltimore Ravens tight end Dennis Pitta is interviewed during media day in preparation for Super Bowl XLVII against the San Francisco 49ers at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Anybody who had the unrealistic expectation that Dennis Pitta would make his season debut for the Baltimore Ravens today set themselves up for disappointment. Pitta, who began practicing on Wednesday, would immensely help the Ravens in their quest for the sixth seed in the AFC, but neither Pitta nor the Ravens want to rush things. Even though he is making great progress from an offseason hip injury, the Ravens are taking the prudent route here.
According to the Baltimore Sun’s Aaron Wilson, Dennis Pitta will not be playing against the New York Jets today, because the Ravens did not activate him from the short-term injured reserve ahead of yesterday’s 4 p.m. deadline. Again, this was to be expected, and Wilson said himself that a “best-case scenario” would have Pitta playing in Week 14 against the Minnesota Vikings.
There is still the possibility that Pitta plays in the big Week 13, Thanksgiving rivalry game with the Pittsburgh Steelers, which has huge playoff ramifications. Today’s game against the Jets means a lot in the quest for the final playoff seed in the conference, but the game against the Steelers has the same importance with the added meaning of a bitter rivalry contest. That said, it’s also a short-week game, so that’s why he isn’t expected to play in Week 13 either.
Keep a close eye on Pitta’s status, though, because everyone recognizes his importance to the team. He’s one of the best and most versatile pass-catching TEs and is clearly somebody that quarterback Joe Flacco trusts to a high degree.