OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- After a year of discussions of whether Baltimore Ravens tight end Dennis Pitta would ever play again, there's a good chance that his future will be decided over the next 21 days.
Pitta, 30, who remains on the Physically Unable to Perform list, participated in his first regular season practice since September 2014. He was surprised by how well his surgically repaired hip felt, acknowledged that the game is a little fast for him right now and continued to beat himself up about dropping a pass long after practice was over.
More importantly, this began a three-week window in which the Ravens will have to activate him or keep him on PUP, which would end his season and perhaps his NFL career.