OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Just over eight months after suffering a serious knee injury, Ravens safety Terrence Brooks was activated from the physically unable to perform list on Tuesday.
The 2014 third-round pick returned to the practice field and has progressed quickly from a torn anterior cruciate ligament suffered in a game against the Jacksonville Jaguars last Dec. 14. General manager Ozzie Newsome initially said in the offseason that Brooks would begin the regular season on the PUP list, but the Florida State product made great strides in the spring, taking part in voluntary workouts.
“I was already up really early before my alarm clock went off,” said Brooks, who added that he hasn’t taken any time off from the rehabilitation process since injuring his knee. “I was ready to get here, but it was a good day. I definitely didn’t want to sit out this whole year. I put in my mind that I was going to come back and be even stronger than before.”
Describing his knee injury as a “wake-up call” after being disappointed with his rookie year, Brooks’ return boosts depth at the safety position, which was thin behind starters Kendrick Lewis and Will Hill. The Ravens lost 2013 first-round pick Matt Elam to a torn biceps in the first week of training camp.
The plan is to bring Brooks along slowly as he was noncommittal about playing in the Ravens’ second preseason game in Philadelphia on Saturday. But Tuesday’s activation made it clear that Baltimore believes Brooks will be ready to contribute in time for the season opener in Denver.
“We’ve been talking about this for about the last week,” Harbaugh said. “We felt like he’s way ahead of his rehab. He has really done a great job. I don’t think you ever really know how well a guy is going to move around, football-wise, until he starts moving around [in that way].”
Pitta won’t return until mid-season at earliest
With Brooks being activated on Tuesday, tight end Dennis Pitta is the only Ravens player remaining on the active PUP list and Harbaugh confirmed his return is not imminent.
The 30-year-old will remain on the PUP list to begin the regular season, meaning he will miss at least the first six weeks of action after suffering serious right hip injuries in consecutive years. However, it remains unclear if the 2010 fourth-round pick will play again as the Ravens have prepared for the possibility that Pitta’s playing career could be over.
“There’s more to it than just, ‘Can he play? Should he play? Will he be cleared to play?'” Harbaugh said. “And what [does] being ‘cleared to play’ entail in terms of liability and things like that? There’s a lot to it that has to be worked out. I get the impression that he wants to play. He’s rehabbing like crazy. But he’s going to have to make the decision if it’s the best thing for him going forward.”
After taking Crockett Gillmore in the third round of last year’s draft, the Ravens selected Minnesota’s Maxx Williams in the second round and Delaware’s Nick Boyle in the fifth round this spring, moves that reflected the uncertainty with Pitta’s future. Quarterback Joe Flacco acknowledged earlier this summer that he’s gotten used to not having his close friend on the field with the veteran tight end having played in only seven games over the last two seasons.
Tuesday’s injury report
In addition to Brooks, the Ravens also welcomed the returns of cornerback Asa Jackson (knee), wide receiver Michael Campanaro, and rookie offensive lineman Robert Myers (concussion) to the practice field on Tuesday.
Myers had missed nearly two weeks of action since suffering a concussion. Harbaugh added that fellow reserve offensive lineman John Urschel was also close to being cleared after he was also concussed on Aug. 6.
Cornerback Lardarius Webb (hamstring), wide receiver Breshad Perriman (knee), left guard Kelechi Osemele (foot), tight end Maxx Williams (undisclosed), linebacker Steven Means (groin), and offensive linemen Jah Reid (undisclosed) and Darryl Baldwin (undisclosed) did not participate in Tuesday’s workout. Webb has responded slowly to a hamstring strain suffered on Aug. 10.
“He had a little bit of a feel for it [and] couldn’t go in the game,” Harbaugh said. “He came out the next day and didn’t feel good the next day. Maybe he aggravated it a little, perhaps. You’ll have to ask him exactly. But it’s not right, right now, and he’s just nursing it and working it and trying to get it right.”
Rashaan Melvin and veteran Kyle Arrington have handled most of reps with the starting defense in Webb’s absence.
