The Kansas City Chiefs released Pro Bowl wide receiver Jeremy Maclin yesterday to save cap room. Meanwhile, the Baltimore Ravens got hit with another big loss as starting tight end Dennis Pitta went down with a hip injury. This came only one day after their nickel cornerback, Tavon Young, suffered a season-ending injury in practice when he tore his ACL.
Jeremy Maclin gets released
The Kansas City Chiefs decided to release presumed number one wide receiver Jeremy Maclin following the second week of voluntary workouts coming to a close. The move saves them more than $10 million in salary-cap space since he was released after June 1st.
This gives the Chiefs flexibility, as they only had $3.5 million before. Maclin's signing as a free agent in 2015 came at a heavy price, a five-year, $55 million contract. The Chiefs also lost a third-round pick in last years draft and a six-round pick in this year's draft for tampering with him when he was a free agent.
Jeremy Maclin spent his first six seasons in the NFL with the Philadelphia Eagles, before spending his last two seasons with the Chiefs. For his career, Maclin has played in 102 of a possible 128 games, starting 100 of them. He has 474 receptions in his career for 6,395 yards and 46 touchdowns. This best season of his career was 2014, his last season with the Eagles. That year he made the Pro Bowl as a third-team alternative.
Dennis Pitta once again injures his hip
Yesterday, the Baltimore Ravens held a closed practice as part of the team's second week of organized team activities. At the practice, starting tight end Dennis Pitta suffered a serious injury without being hit. According to the Ravens, he reached out to make a catch and fell to the ground.
When he attempted to get up, Pitta could not put any weight on his leg. This is the third time in the last five years Pitta has injured his hip and he will need surgery to repair it. There is now worry that this hip injury could end his NFL career.
Dennis Pitta has spent all seven seasons in the NFL with the Baltimore Ravens.
For his career, Pitta has played in 66 of a possible 112 games, starting in 23 of them. He has 224 receptions in his career for 2,098 yards and 13 touchdowns. Last season was Pitta's best in terms of receptions and yards. He was also a member of the 2012 Ravens team that won the Super Bowl. If his career is indeed over, Pitta will be second all-time for the Ravens in terms of receptions, yards and touchdowns by a tight end.
