OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- The free-agent signing of Benjamin Watson doesn't necessarily mean last year's starting tight end is out of the picture.
Crockett Gillmore is expected to play this season "barring any setbacks," Baltimore Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome said Thursday. Gillmore is having surgery on both shoulders this offseason.
"We got positive news last week, but he still has a recovery road that he has to go down in order to get himself ready for the beginning of the year," Newsome said.
Gillmore, a third-round draft pick in 2014, ranked third on the team with 412 yards receiving in his first season as a starter. He also caught 33 passes and four touchdowns. Injuries to his calf, shoulder and back limited him to 10 games and he was placed on injured reserve on Dec. 21.
The Ravens' need at tight end increased after the surgeries to Gillmore and the 10-game suspension of Nick Boyle, who violated the NFL's policy on performance-enhancing drugs for a second time.
"We're a tight end-friendly offense. [Quarterback] Joe [Flacco] likes having tight ends that he can count on," Newsome said. "Yes, that situation kind of changed how we would approach free agency. Tight end, at one point, was not a priority but it became one because of those two situations. We were lucky to be able to match our need to a person like Ben."
The Ravens currently have nine tight ends on the roster: Watson, Gillmore, Boyle, Maxx Williams (a second-round pick from a year ago), Darren Waller (a converted wide receiver), Dennis Pitta, Chase Ford, Harold Spears and Konrad Reuland.
