Dennis Pitta's comeback from a twice fractured and dislocated right hip was one of the Ravens' feel-good stories of an otherwise disappointing 2016 season. But Pitta's tenure with the team _ and possibly his NFL career _ ended Wednesday when the Ravens released the popular and productive tight end after he dislocated his hip last week for the third time.
The Ravens announced that they've released the 31-year-old with an injury waiver, a move that opens up a roster spot and $2.5 million of salary cap space. The Ravens are still trying to add a veteran wide receiver with Jeremy Maclin and Eric Decker among the options.
Pitta, a Raven since 2010 and one of the heroes in the team's 2012 Super Bowl-winning season, is now a free agent for the first time in his career. However, it's possible that he'll decide to retire rather than attempt a third comeback from a hip injury.
Pitta led the Ravens and all NFL tight ends with 86 receptions after he missed the entire 2015 season and played in seven combined games in 2013 and 2014.
The Ravens are well stocked at tight end with Benjamin Watson, Crockett Gillmore and Maxx Williams expected to return from injuries, and Nick Boyle and Darren Waller also coming back. The Ravens have also signed tight end/fullback Ryan Malleck and undrafted rookie Barrett Burns, who played his college ball at Appalachian State, the past two days.
If Pitta's time with the Ravens is indeed over, he'll be remembered for his perseverance and how he rose to the occasion in the playoffs after the 2012 regular season.
Over parts of six seasons and in 66 regular-season games, the 2010 fourth-round draft had 224 catches for 2,098 yards and 13 touchdowns. He was at his best during the Ravens' Super Bowl XLVII run as he had 14 catches for 163 yards and three touchdowns in the playoffs that year. His output included a pivotal third-down catch in overtime in the divisional round upset of the Denver Broncos and a touchdown reception in the team's 34-31 victory over the San Francisco 49ers in the Super Bowl.
His playoff performance followed a 61-catch, seven-touchdown regular season.
Pitta fractured and dislocated hip for the first time early in the 2013 training camp, when he landed awkwardly in the back of the end zone while trying to come down with a Joe Flacco pass. He returned that year in time to play in four games and catch 20 balls for 169 yards and a touchdown.
While knowing that Pitta's first hip fracture and dislocation put him at risk for the injury happening again, the Ravens were comfortable enough to sign the tight end to a five-year, $32 million extension. After catching 13 balls for 113 yards over the first two games in 2014, Pitta went down without being touched in the first half of the Week 3 game against the Cleveland Browns.
Pitta went through another arduous rehabilitation process and practiced with the Ravens for a couple of weeks during the 2015 season. Neither player nor team felt comfortable enough for Pitta to graduate to game action. When he was shut down for the rest of the season, Pitta acknowledged the concern that his career could be over.
However, Pitta wanted to take one more shot at it and his hard work and courage produced one of the biggest positives of the Ravens' 2016 season. He spoke last month during the Ravens' organized team activities about how nice it was to have a normal offseason and not have to worry about the hip. A week later, he reinjured the hip while lunging for a pass at a closed practice.
In announcing the injury, Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome called Pitta "one of the great Ravens."
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