The Baltimore Ravens announced the release of tight end Dennis Pitta on Wednesday, less than a week after the veteran suffered a dislocated hip during an OTA practice.
Dennis Pitta released by Ravens after dislocating hip for the 3rd time
The veteran tight end once looked like a rising star in the NFL, but his career was derailed by injuries.
Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports
Pitta, 31, was considered a rising star a few years ago, enjoying a breakout 2013 season with 61 catches for 669 yards and seven touchdowns. That was derailed when he suffered a dislocated hip in the 2014 training camp, costing him the first 12 games of the regular season. Pitta returned in Week 14 that season and didn’t seem to have any setbacks.
The Ravens gave him a vote of confidence that he would bounce back in 2014, signing him to a five-year extension worth $32 million with $16 million in guarantees. But his troublesome hip failed him again. Pitta suffered a second dislocation in Week 3 of the 2014 season, sending him to injured reserve.
The second hip injury would be much slower to rehab from, and Pitta started the 2015 season on the PUP list. He never came close to returning to the field and the Ravens eventually placed him on injured reserve again.
After bouncing back with 86 receptions for 729 yards and two touchdowns in 2016, the latest hip injury for Pitta likely means the end of his NFL career.
For now, the Ravens are moving forward with Benjamin Watson, Crockett Gillmore, and Maxx Williams at the tight end position.
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