Update: Pitta probable to play again

[BOLDnPurPnBlacK]

Alliteration aside, Harbaugh gave an injury update after speaking extensively with doctors and early signs only 2.5 months after his second hip injury are that Pitta will make a full recovery and be able to play again.

Personally I thought he was done for sure and his contract would haunt us.

At this point anything we can get from him going forward is a positive, but what do you all feel are reasonable expectations for timeline of his return and what type of player can we expect?

Will he be able to return to being Joe's safety blanket over the middle on 3rd downs and in the red zone, or will he be a shell of his former self?

[rmw10]

If he can come back and play, great.  I don't think we're at the point that we can truly count on him, though.  Even if he can come back, I still believe we have to prepare and address the position like he can't.

[Alaska Alaska!]

I just want Pitta to be okay so he can still be a football player.  Whether that be with us or not, it would suck if he had to end his career.  He's an awesome dude

[beasy2487]

Dennis Pitta plays well when he's healthy.

[GrimCoconut]

I think we carry four TE next year after trying to find another, whether that means bringing back Daniels or drafting a guy or both. I like Supernaw.

[Guest]

wish him the best, now with two injuries to the same hip it might be wishful to hope he can really play again. the injuries were without contact for the most part. something is wrong there

today read that Jimmy Smith's injury is lisfranc. That is not good news. Maurice James Drew and Matt Schuab never really came back from that one

[BOLDnPurPnBlacK]

If he can come back and play, great. I don't think we're at the point that we can truly count on him, though. Even if he can come back, I still believe we have to prepare and address the position like he can't.

I agree. Even if he comes back 100% he's already like 28 I think, very old for how short a time he's been in the league. And if we can keep Kubiak it would be awesome to have 2 athletic, pass catching tight ends in this offense.

And with Brown and Aiken really playing well and developing nicely; smith sr. Looking like he can give us 1 more quality year at least and campanero looking like he can develop into a clutch, chain moving slot weapon... Gosh almost forgot juice.....

Point is for the first time in a long time I don't feel like WR is a huge need (though I wouldn't hate it if we could land a legit #1 in the draft), both lines are stocked with young talent that's already contributing or starting - TE is our biggest need to fill on offense.

Defense we could use another cb, safety looks like a need again though id hate to draft another high after investing in Elam and Brooks, and a pass rusher... But I'm all for going TE early in the draft.

[The Raven]

I think we carry four TE next year after trying to find another, whether that means bringing back Daniels or drafting a guy or both. I like Supernaw.

 

I like Gillmore and Supernaw as a tandem. They could work well together.

 

Honestly, I think Gillmore can emerge as a number one tight end if he can refine his receiving game. He just might be our best blocking tight end since Heap or Bajema. 

 

I don't think we would have taken the relatively unknown Gillmore in the third unless we thought he could be a starter some day. I think we liked what we saw at the Senior Bowl-- where he led the South with five catches for 61 yards and a TD. In fact, his 61 yards there led both teams. The fact that he was able to produce against some of college football's best says something to me about his potential.

[GrimCoconut]

I like Gillmore and Supernaw as a tandem. They could work well together.

Honestly, I think Gillmore can emerge as a number one tight end if he can refine his receiving game. He just might be our best blocking tight end since Heap or Bajema.

I don't think we would have taken the relatively unknown Gillmore in the third unless we thought he could be a starter some day. I think we liked what we saw at the Senior Bowl-- where he led the South with five catches for 61 yards and a TD. In fact, his 61 yards there led both teams. The fact that he was able to produce against some of college football's best says something to me about his potential.

Don't get me wrong. I really like Gillmore too. I'm talking about someone opposite of him.

[The Raven]

Don't get me wrong. I really like Gillmore too. I'm talking about someone opposite of him.

 

We could use someone opposite him, preferably a Dennis Pitta or Ed Dickson type. Hell, why not Pitta himself? Lol. An athletic tight end who can stretch the field would an excellent Robin for Gillmore's Batman-- or the other way around. That's sort of why I said he and Supernaw would be quite the tandem. If memory serves, Supernaw is much more of a receiving tight end.

[Inqui]

I think we carry four TE next year after trying to find another, whether that means bringing back Daniels or drafting a guy or both. I like Supernaw.

I can see us bringing Daniels back for (say) a two-dear deal. We'd probably grab a TE if one fell far enough (Funchess  ), but long-term I think we like our guys enough that we can roll with them. But for the time being, the experience of a guy like Daniels would be one of those things that made the TE unit better than the sum of its parts.

[BOLDnPurPnBlacK]

We could use someone opposite him, preferably a Dennis Pitta or Ed Dickson type. Hell, why not Pitta himself? Lol. An athletic tight end who can stretch the field would an excellent Robin for Gillmore's Batman-- or the other way around. That's sort of why I said he and Supernaw would be quite the tandem. If memory serves, Supernaw is much more of a receiving tight end.

Supernaw looked good on Sunday, but there's got to be a reason he hasn't been able to stick with us - or anyone for that matter.

I don't know why we haven't given Supernaw and Gillmore more of a look in the passing game. The offense has been incredibly efficient, but so much of it is predicated on having 2 receiving threats at TE.

OD has had some fatigue issues and while he's been clutch when needed, he's disappears far too often. Throw the young guys in the fire. We may see some growing pains but with pitta out and an aging Daniels it's a perfect opportunity to get these guys meaningful reps. They've looked good when thrown to and Gillmore is an imposing man. Use him.

[Militant X 1]

2 hip injuries, on the same hip?  I don't know about a Pitta comeback.  Would love for him to...just don't know about that.

[ravensdfan]

2 hip injuries, on the same hip?  I don't know about a Pitta comeback.  Would love for him to...just don't know about that.

I just hope he thinks it through carefully and listens to the doctors' advice. I know people sometimes get into their minds they want something and ignore what is best for them.

 

Would love for Pitta to return - but would love it more that he can still walk at 35.

[Ravenseconbeast]

just like webb.   im done with these injured/double inured IR'ed players making a miracle comeback.   

 

no more putting all the chips on their return.  we need to stack our draft/FA on TE/CB and if jimmy/pitta comes back to contribute, that is fine.  but they should be considered a bonus next offseason.

[PurpleCity5]

 

wish him the best, now with two injuries to the same hip it might be wishful to hope he can really play again. the injuries were without contact for the most part. something is wrong there

today read that Jimmy Smith's injury is lisfranc. That is not good news. Maurice James Drew and Matt Schuab never really came back from that one

 Dude you're scaring me. LOL

[PurpleCity5]

If he comes back great, if not than I just hope he can live a healthy and happy life.

[Gordo52]

Great news for him! Like others have emphasized, there's no way we can rely on him anymore. If he gives us something, great.

TE is right up there among our biggest needs. Ozzie knows this.

[PurpleCityLights]

he needs to retire, why put yourself back in danger of never being able to walk for football?

[omar586]

i think supernaw might end up replacing Pitta, Joe might have found his new BFF, joe and supernaw just need chemistry.

[uhhhh]

wish him the best, now with two injuries to the same hip it might be wishful to hope he can really play again. the injuries were without contact for the most part. something is wrong there

today read that Jimmy Smith's injury is lisfranc. That is not good news. Maurice James Drew and Matt Schuab never really came back from that one

 

Eric Decker, Ryan Kalil, Ryan Clady and Le'veon Bell also had them and they came back

[stampedehero]

Alliteration aside, Harbaugh gave an injury update after speaking extensively with doctors and early signs only 2.5 months after his second hip injury are that Pitta will make a full recovery and be able to play again.

Personally I thought he was done for sure and his contract would haunt us.

At this point anything we can get from him going forward is a positive, but what do you all feel are reasonable expectations for timeline of his return and what type of player can we expect?

Will he be able to return to being Joe's safety blanket over the middle on 3rd downs and in the red zone, or will he be a shell of his former self?

He has to experience contact .  The injury could re occur and that spells a different outlook.

[stampedehero]

I agree. Even if he comes back 100% he's already like 28 I think, very old for how short a time he's been in the league. And if we can keep Kubiak it would be awesome to have 2 athletic, pass catching tight ends in this offense.

And with Brown and Aiken really playing well and developing nicely; smith sr. Looking like he can give us 1 more quality year at least and campanero looking like he can develop into a clutch, chain moving slot weapon... Gosh almost forgot juice.....

Point is for the first time in a long time I don't feel like WR is a huge need (though I wouldn't hate it if we could land a legit #1 in the draft), both lines are stocked with young talent that's already contributing or starting - TE is our biggest need to fill on offense.

Defense we could use another cb, safety looks like a need again though id hate to draft another high after investing in Elam and Brooks, and a pass rusher... But I'm all for going TE early in the draft.

Thanks for the Jus mention.

[52N19]

i read the article and i'm no doctor but it would have to be wishful thinking to think pitta would ever play contact football again. it would be nice if the artilce made a medical judgement about the possibility of a full recovery. i can;t imagine what kind of workout would strenghthen a hip socket.

[BmoreBird22]

i read the article and i'm no doctor but it would have to be wishful thinking to think pitta would ever play contact football again. it would be nice if the artilce made a medical judgement about the possibility of a full recovery. i can;t imagine what kind of workout would strenghthen a hip socket.

I can't imagine any would. Once you're an adult, your bones are as strong as they're going to get. At this point, you just have to hope he doesn't land awkwardly or get hit the wrong way.

[B-more Ravor]

Pitta's base salary of $4M is guaranteed next year, so there's no reason for them to not give him a chance to recover and return, since they are going to owe him the $4M no matter what.  Because of that guaranteed base salary, the Cap hit ($12.8M) for releasing him next year is prohibitive.

 

So, even if he's on PUP for the entire year, it still makes sense for them to give him the year and then take a look at where he is Feb/March of 2016.

 

The Cap implications of releasing him/him retiring are also much easier to deal with then. 

[redlobster]

Pitta's base salary of $4M is guaranteed next year, so there's no reason for them to not give him a chance to recover and return, since they are going to owe him the $4M no matter what.  Because of that guaranteed base salary, the Cap hit ($12.8M) for releasing him next year is prohibitive.

 

So, even if he's on PUP for the entire year, it still makes sense for them to give him the year and then take a look at where he is Feb/March of 2016.

 

The Cap implications of releasing him/him retiring are also much easier to deal with then. 

Exactly, personally I don't think he plays a down of meaningful football ever again but he will be with the team next year regardless , because his cap hit would accelerate if released. Cutting him or him retiring in 2016 would save 600k, where as next year would be dead money of 6.6 million if cut.

[rmcjacket23]

Exactly, personally I don't think he plays a down of meaningful football ever again but he will be with the team next year regardless , because his cap hit would accelerate if released. Cutting him or him retiring in 2016 would save 600k, where as next year would be dead money of 6.6 million if cut.

I agree, but there is the idea that you're paying him $4M and he may not even play or play effectively, in which case his roster spot (which we clearly see in an injury-riddled season becomes very important) is sort of a waste. I understand its dead money regardless of whether he plays or not, but it would open up a roster spot in theory.

 

Ultimately, if he wants to play and he gets cleared to play, I fully expect him to be back.

[cursona pirate]

Really blows. I always wanted a Pitta jersey.

[shawn ny]

I love having Pitta on the team but would rather see him retired as opposed to taking the risk of damaging his hip to the point he is crippled for life.