Dennis Pitta is out of surgery. He's out for the season, too.
Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh confirmed that fact Sunday, telling reporters "there's no way" the tight end can play in 2013 after he fractured and dislocated his hip. NFL.com's Albert Breer reported Saturday, via a source informed of the injury, that Pitta was done for the season.
Harbaugh also said Sunday that placing Pitta on injured reserve with a designated-to-return tag isn't possible because there's too much damage in the hip, according to The Baltimore Sun.
NFL.com's Ian Rapoport reported that doctors successfully extracted the bone fragments from Pitta's fractured and dislocated hip during a Saturday night surgery, according to a person briefed on the injury.
"Asking for prayers for a speedy recovery and heal time as I go through this ordeal," Pitta wrote on Facebook.
More tests are scheduled this week to determine damage to the surrounding area, Rapoport reported, and Harbaugh said Sunday the team is waiting for those results to gauge the full extent of Pitta's injury and determine a specific time frame for his return.
Pitta was injured during practice Saturday, when he collided with safety James Ihedigbo on a jump ball in the back of the end zone. Trainers tended to Pitta, who covered his face with a towel as he was carted off the field.
It's a huge loss for the defending Super Bowl champions. With Pitta and Anquan Boldin out of the equation, Joe Flacco is without his two favorite red-zone options. The quarterback must play at an elite level for 16 games, not one month.
As for Pitta, uncertainty reigns. He signed a one-year contract in May, hoping to leverage the 2013 season into a lucrative long-term deal. Contract leverage now is the least of Pitta's concerns.
Follow Dan Hanzus on Twitter @DanHanzus.
