Ravens’ Harbaugh on TE Dennis Pitta: ‘I’m planning on him not being back’

The Baltimore Ravens don’t expect their veteran tight end back any time soon.

The Baltimore Ravens announced Tuesday that they have placed injured tight end Dennis Pitta on the physically unable to perform list, which will keep him out a minimum of six games. Head coach John Harbaugh is prepared for the six-year veteran to miss the entire season after a second hip surgery, however.

“As far as I’m concerned, you plan for the worst and you hope for the best,” Harbaugh told reporters Tuesday, according to ESPN.com. “I’m planning on him not being back. That would be the plan from a football standpoint.”

The Ravens are prepared to move forward with second-year tight end Crockett Gilmore, who had just 10 catches in 2014, and rookie Maxx Williams, who Baltimore traded up to select in the second round.

•NFL rumors: Latest news on preseason, injuries, free agency

Pitta has played just seven games over the past two seasons. He dislocated and fractured his hip during training camp in 2013, though he was able to return for the final four games of the season. He dislocated his hip again in the third game of the season last year and missed the rest of the season. Both injuries required surgery. 

In 2012, his last full year, Pitta hauled in 61 passes for 669 yards and seven touchdowns.

- Kenny Ducey