Baltimore Ravens tight end Dennis Pitta has finally returned to the practice field. He’s been recovering and rehabbing after having right hip surgery for the second time. Since signing a contract extension, he’s been forgotten about since a strong 2012 campaign. Can he return to his original form in 2015?
Pitta started to get noticed after his rookie season. Back in 2011, Joe Flacco started targeting him more due to his impressive production. In 56 targets, Pitta caught 40 of them and recorded 405 yards and three touchdowns. After an impressive win over the San Francisco 49ers on Thanksgiving, linebacker Terrell Suggs famously nicknamed him “American Express.” Playing on the slogan, Suggs said he was “everywhere you want to be” and “don’t leave home without him.”
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It was the setup to a tremendous following year. In the opening game of the season, Pitta started off with a bang after catching five passes for 73 yards and getting a touchdown. He went on to set career highs of 61 catches for 669 yards and seven touchdowns, playing in all 16 games. He recorded 14 more catches for 163 yards and three touchdowns in the postseason.
After an impressive showing in a Super Bowl victory over the 49ers, things turned for the worse thanks to injuries. Pitta fractured his hip in training camp before the 2013 season began and didn’t return until Week 14. Anticipating things would return to the norm, the Ravens signed him to a five-year, $32 million extension the following offseason. Again, not even a month into the 2014 season, Pitta injured the same hip.
The tight end has played in a grand total of seven games since Super Bowl XLVII. The comeback story begins once again, but there is plenty of concern to keep him healthy. A report from Kevin Patra of NFL.com reveals that Pitta works about half of the full practice and he will likely start this season on the physically unable to perform list.
"“Dennis is out there for about half the practice and he’s doing a good job, too,” coach John Harbaugh said. “So, we’re not counting him out at all.”Pitta is a likely candidate to start the 2015 season on the PUP list as the Ravens take it slowly with the pass-catcher."
Perhaps the most interesting storyline will be the emergence of newcomer Maxx Williams. While Crockett Gilmore is listed as the current starter, the Ravens moved up to get Williams in the second round. Scouts such as Mel Kiper Jr. already crowned the rookie when he was drafted (via The Baltimore Sun).
"“I think Maxx Williams could be NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year,” Kiper said. “He could be everything that Dennis Pitta was when he was healthy.”"
After just five seasons in the NFL and at 29 years of age, Pitta is facing the potential of being booted out if Williams lives up to his expectations. Of course, things could turn the opposite way. Maybe Williams struggles out of the gate (he’s a rookie after all), but Pitta’s hip finally becomes reliable. The Ravens are in a scenario where they could have two playmakers at the position.
Until Pitta shows that improvement, don’t expect him to be a major factor this season. Luckily he’s young enough where he can rebound for a few more years, and the Ravens will be sure to try and get the most out of that contract extension.
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