Dennis Pitta has found a new level of confidence in his bid to resume his NFL career after fracturing and dislocating his hip twice in two seasons.
At this time last year, Pitta was just hoping to get back on the field.
Now that he's practicing again during Ravens OTAs, Pitta insists he's "totally confident" in his surgically repaired hip. In fact, the veteran tight end says he feels better than ever before because there are no lingering issues.
Coach John Harbaugh was impressed after watching Pitta in Thursday's practice.
"He looked good," Harbaugh said, via the team's official website. "He looked like Dennis Pitta to me."
Pitta acknowledged in February that there "certainly are big risks" for his future by attempting a comeback. As Harbaugh described offseason practices, "This is nothing. This is touch football."
The true test will come once the hitting starts in August.
Since emerging as one of the NFL's most productive receiving tight ends in 2012 and landing a five-year, $32 million contract early in 2013, Pitta has played in just seven games over the past three seasons.
Even if he survives training camp and preseason action, he's no lock to make the final roster now that the position is crowded with veteran Ben Watson and a trio of promising youngsters in Crockett Gillmore, Maxx Williams and Nick Boyle.
