Benjamin Watson is back on the practice field.
The Baltimore Ravens announced the tight end returned to practice during mandatory minicamp on Tuesday, less than 10 months after tearing his Achilles tendon.
Watson signed a two-year, $7 million contract with the Ravens last offseason, but tore his Achilles during the preseason. Both Watson and coach John Harbaugh have expressed confidence the 36-year-old was ahead of schedule in rehab this spring.
"I'm at the point now where I'm very close," Watson said in May, via ESPN.com. "I'm able to do pretty much everything to some extent. These last couple stages are very important about getting the strength back. The actual Achilles itself is intact."
In light of the Ravens releasing tight end Dennis Pitta, who suffered a likely career-ending hip injury, getting Watson back on the practice field is a positive development for Baltimore's passing attack. When last we saw Watson on the field, he was coming off a 74-reception, 825-yard, six-touchdown season with the New Orleans Saints.