He hasn't played a game in two years, but Dennis Pitta isn't ready to toss in the towel.
On the rebound from a twice-fractured hip, the Ravens tight end believes he'll be a factor this season after drawing praise in May from coach John Harbaugh, who said Pitta "looks like the same player we've seen in the past."
"I had to convince a few people, and I'm thankful for those who have been in my corner all along and had my best interests in mind," Pitta told CSN Mid-Atlantic. "Like I've said before, I know my situation better than anyone else, and I'm confident in the decision I made to come back, and certainly there were people who wanted to make sure that I was confident in that decision. I have a great support team behind me, and we all feel good about this move."
Pitta's battered hip raises legitimate questions about his ability to return to form, but the 30-year-old believes he can once again operate as a dangerous pass-catcher for Baltimore.
"No, my expectations haven't changed from four years ago, to two years ago, to now," Pitta said. "My level of expectation is extremely high going into this year. Like I said, I feel confident in how I can run, how I can move, how I can play and it's just a matter of getting those reps back to where I'm confident in doing all of that. So, yes, expectations personally are very high."
The Ravens haven't given up on Pitta, but he'll face plenty of competition. Veteran Benjamin Watson was signed this offseason to play alongside 2015 second-rounder Maxx Williams and the promising Crockett Gillmore. A healthy Pitta would serve as the cherry on top of a strong position group.
