OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- After a year of discussions of whether Baltimore Ravens tight end Dennis Pitta would ever play again, there's a good chance that his future will be decided over the next 21 days.

Pitta, 30, who remains on the Physically Unable to Perform list, participated in his first regular-season practice since September 2014. He was surprised by how well his surgically repaired hip felt, acknowledged that the game is a little fast for him right now and continued to beat himself up about dropping a pass long after practice was over.

More importantly, this began a three-week window in which the Ravens will have to activate him or keep him on PUP, which would end his season and perhaps his NFL career.

"I would like to think that if I can't make it back this year, what's going to change next year?" Pitta said after Wednesday's practice. "For me, in my mind, I'm working to get back this year. If I can't, that might be it."

Pitta first fractured his right hip in training camp in July 2013, when he collided with safety James Ihedigbo on a jump ball in the back of the end zone. Then, he re-injured the same hip in a September 2014 game in Cleveland, where he lost his balance on a catch and collapsed to the ground without being hit.

Even though Pitta was able to return from this injury once before, he offered no guarantee when asked if he will ever play again.

"That's not really something I'm even ready to answer," Pitta said. "This is obviously a period where we're just trying to get a feel for where I'm at and where I can potentially help the team if it comes to that. I'm encouraged by how it felt today."

Still, it says something that two hip surgeries in 14 months and concerns from loved ones didn't discourage him from getting back on the field.

"[My wife is] not real excited about me being out here," Pitta said. "She was nervous last night and didn't want to get a call that something went wrong today."

It was only three years ago when Pitta was emerging as Joe Flacco's go-to receiver. He had a knack for getting open whether it was on third down or in the red zone. Pitta caught a career-high 61 passes in the Ravens' 2012 Super Bowl season before suffering his first hip injury.

The Ravens still signed Pitta to a five-year, $32 million deal that included $16 million guaranteed during the 2013 offseason. Since that contract, Pitta has played in seven games, catching 36 passes and scoring one touchdown. Pitta is guaranteed $4 million this season whether he plays or not.

Asked about his level of concern about hurting that hip again, Pitta said, "That's part of the inherent risk in playing football. That's something that I understand and I've talked extensively with our doctors and understand those risks quite well."

Despite a 1-5 start, Baltimore doesn't desperately need Pitta to return. The Ravens have been impressed with Crockett Gillmore's ability to break tackles and they've invested a second-round pick in pass-catching tight end Maxx Williams.

Pitta and the Ravens will have an interesting decision to make when their window ends Nov. 11.

"This is just Day One of our journey," Pitta said. "I think it felt pretty good and I'm encouraged by that and it's certainly great to be back out there with my teammates. We'll see where we go from here."