Former BYU football tight end Dennis Pitta released by Ravens

Former BYU football star Dennis Pitta was released by the Baltimore Ravens on Wednesday after he suffered the third hip injury of his NFL career during organized team activities.

BYU football’s 2010 fourth-round draft pick’s career will most likely come to an early finish after he dislocated his hip, according to doctors.

Pitta was reaching for a pass during practice when the injury occurred. There was no contact on the play according to the Ravens, and when Pitta went to stand up, he could not place any weight on his leg.

Pitta’s first hip injury came in 2013 when he dislocated it in practice before the season began.

He later reinjured it in week three against Cleveland in 2014. The most recent injury seems to have happened in a similar fashion.

Pitta spent two years recovering from the injury in Cleveland and returned to the Ravens’ starting lineup last season.

He led all tight ends with 86 catches and had two touchdowns in 2016.

Pitta was drafted by Baltimore in 2010 in the fourth round. He was BYU football’s last drafted player until Jamaal Williams was taken by Green Bay this year.

After a quiet first year, Pitta saw his time increase in 2011 and had a great 2012.

He played in all 16 regular season games and had 61 receptions for 669 yards and seven touchdowns.

In the postseason, he played in all four games and caught a 1-yard touchdown in Baltimore’s win against San Francisco in Super Bowl XLVI.

Pitta’s missed the first 13 weeks of 2013 after his first hip injury and had 20 catches in four games.

Again, a hip injury sidelined Pitta in week four of 2014 and he missed all of 2015.

Overall, Pitta has 2,098 yards, 13 touchdowns and 24 receptions in his career.