Dennis Pitta is done for the season, and the Baltimore Ravens moved quickly to replace their pass-catching tight end on Sunday, signing veteran Visanthe Shiancoe to a one-year deal.
Ravens coach John Harbaugh confirmed that Pitta, who dislocated a hip in Saturday's practice and underwent surgery, suffered "enough damage" he'll be placed on season-ending injured reserve.
According to a person informed of the injury, Pitta fractured the hip, doctors removed bone chips and further examination will determine whether he suffered ligament damage as well. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the Ravens didn't release details.
"Asking for prayers for a speedy recovery and heal time as I go through this ordeal," Pitta wrote on his Facebook page. "Ravens will always be Ravens and if it turns out that I am out for the season I have confidence for other teammates to step up and do their part. Keep the faith!"
Pitta, 28, signed a one-year restricted free agent tender worth $2.023 million on May 13. His timetable for getting back onto the field remains unclear.
The injury opened the door for Shiancoe, 33, who works out in the Washington, D.C., area and now joins a depth chart that includes Ed Dickson, Alex Silvestro, Matt Furstenburg and Billy Bajema.
His deal is worth $940,000 – the minimum for a 10-year veteran -- which becomes fully vested if Shiancoe is on the Week 1 roster, according to a person familiar with the contract. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because contract details were to remain private.
Shiancoe played only four games last season with the New England Patriots because of injuries and didn't catch a pass. He was productive for the Minnesota Vikings the previous five seasons – his best in 2009, when he caught 56 passes for 566 yards and 11 touchdowns.
In 10 seasons with the New York Giants, Vikings and Patriots, Shiancoe has 243 catches for 2,677 yards and 27 touchdowns.
Broncos lose Koppen: The Denver Broncos brought Dan Koppen back last month with the plan that once again Koppen would replace injured starting center J.D. Walton.
Now the Broncos will have to play without Koppen as well.
The veteran center suffered a torn ACL in his left knee in Sunday's practice after going down during a 9-on-7 running game drill. Koppen was quickly loaded onto a cart and driven to the locker room, where he underwent an MRI.
The team later confirmed the ACL tear, which will ends Koppen's season.
"I always cringe," coach John Fox said. "You never like to see players get injured, and particularly severely injured. But you understand that when you do this long enough, whether you're a player or a coach, that this happens."
Koppen spent the first two days of training camp as a backup, but replaced Manny Ramirez as the first-team center once the team began padded practices on Saturday. He was injured on the third snap of the 9-on-7 drills.
The Broncos originally signed Koppen last September after he was cut by the New England Patriots. He seamlessly slid into a role as the player snapping the ball to Peyton Manning when Walton broke his ankle in the fourth game of the season.
Koppen's contract expired in March and he was un-signed until the Broncos brought him back last month after Walton suffered a setback in his rehab and needed another surgery. Walton is expected to be out through at least the end of October.
With Koppen joining Walton on the sideline, Ramirez will get the next shot as Manning's center, the position he held through all of the team's offseason practices. He played in 15 games last season, with 11 starts, all at guard. The Broncos also drafted center Philip Blake in 2012, but he spent 15 weeks of last season on injured reserve with a hand injury.
Cooper signs: Arizona Cardinals coach Bruce Arians had just expressed unhappiness with the performance of his offensive line when he was handed a note during his news conference.
Guard Jonathan Cooper had just agreed to terms on a four-year deal.
"I'm happier right now," Arians said.
Cooper, the seventh-overall pick, will receive a contract worth $14.5 million, including a $10 million signing. The contract contains offset language, a point of contention between the Cardinals and Cooper's agent, Todd France.
That caused Cooper to miss the first two days of practice.
Offset language protects the team financially if Cooper was released and picked up by another team.
It's unknown when Cooper will report. "I'm sure he's a on a flight, then he has to take a physical and sign. Hopefully, we'll have him on the field for (Monday)."
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