OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- Baltimore Ravens tight end Dennis Pitta is eligible to start practicing in 10 days (Oct. 19), although it's unknown whether he'll be able to do so.
Ravens coach John Harbaugh said it remains "the status quo" with Pitta, who has to miss the first six weeks of the regular season after being placed on the physically unable to perform list.
"He's been working really hard to get himself ready to play," Harbaugh said Friday. "That's what he's been working hard to do. What form that takes when the time comes will be up to him and his family and the medical people involved. Those conversations are taking place and I'm looking forward to seeing what the decisions are just like everybody else. But that doesn't happen for another couple weeks I believe and we'll know more from that point on."
After the first six weeks of the regular season, teams have a five-week window in which players on PUP can return to practice while not counting against the 53-man roster. When players begin practicing, teams have an additional three-week window to decide whether to activate a player to the roster. If no move is made at the end of that 21-day period, the team can keep that player on PUP (which ends his season) or release him.
So, the earliest Pitta can start practicing is Oct. 19 and the latest is Nov. 23.
This has been a frustrating two seasons for Pitta. After catching a career-high 61 passes in the Ravens' 2012 Super Bowl season, Pitta has been limited to seven games in 2013 and 2014 because of two surgeries to his right hip.
Pitta has repeatedly indicated to reporters that he wants to play again.
"Hopefully, I will be on the field this year," Pitta said in July. "It's still a little bit up in the air."
Baltimore could certainly use him right now. With Pitta sidelined, Crockett Gillmore caught 10 passes for 151 yards and two touchdowns in the first three games. When Gillmore suffered a calf injury, the Ravens had to turn to rookies Maxx Williams and Nick Boyle.