Ed Dickson (shoulder) has resumed catching passes.

Dickson is progressing quickly off the sprained right shoulder he sustained during the preseason opener. He's hoping to return to practice in roughly a week, giving him ample time to get ready for Week 1. Dennis Pitta (broken hand) is without a timetable for catching passes.

According to Ravens coach John Harbaugh, the team is in no rush to sign a veteran tight end.

Ed Dickson (shoulder) and Dennis Pitta (broken hand) are out for the preseason, but both could be back in time for Week 1. For now, it seems the team will go forward with Davon Drew and Billy Bajema. The top available free agents include Kris Wilson (with Baltimore in 2011), Jeremy Shockey, and Bo Scaife.

An MRI on Ed Dickson's shoulder came back negative.

Dickson has swelling and soreness, but no tears. It's a relief after his shoulder might have popped out of place on Thursday night. Dickson is expected to be ready for Week 1, but any depth chart momentum he gained from Dennis Pitta's broken hand has been stalled.

Ed Dickson suffered a sprained shoulder in the Ravens' preseason opener Thursday night against the Falcons.

Dickson had two catches for 15 yards and a touchdown before departing. NFL teams often use "sprain" as a preliminary diagnosis for any injury, and more will be known after tests are done. Dickson was the No. 19 fantasy tight end in 2011.

The Ravens' official website expects Ed Dickson to enter training camp atop the tight end depth chart.

Dickson was the preferred passing-game option early on last season, but Pitta was vastly more effective later in the year and into the playoffs. No matter who is the "starter," both are going to see plenty of snaps as the Ravens run two-tight end sets. The fear is that they'll cap each other's upside.

Ed Dickson was held to 23 yards on two catches in the Ravens' playoff loss to the Patriots.

In two postseason games, Dickson caught just three passes. While the former Oregon Duck has established himself as a solid all-around, in-line tight end, Dickson has showed only average to above-average athleticism in the pros. He finished the regular season with a 9.8 yards-per-reception average. Dickson will be on the fantasy radar only as a low-end TE2 for 2012.

Since seeing 13 targets back in Week 10, Ravens TE Ed Dickson has been targeted a combined 23 times in eight games.

It's no coincidence that the Ravens lost that Week 10 game to the Seahawks. Since then they've reeled victories in seven of eight games while leaning on the run and scaling back Joe Flacco's attempts. Dickson has also lost more looks to Dennis Pitta in the past two months.

Ed Dickson caught one pass for 20 yards in the Ravens' Week 17 win over the Bengals.

Dickson didn't clear 50 receiving yards in any of his last seven games, mostly staying on the line to block. He finishes the regular season with career highs in catches (53), yards (508), and touchdowns (5). Dickson will remain an every-down player when the Ravens begin their postseason two weeks from now.

Ed Dickson caught three passes for 36 yards and a touchdown in Baltimore's Week 15 loss to the Chargers.

A night that has become far too typical for Dickson, who is averaging just 2.2 catches for 27.6 yards since the Ravens re-committed to the run in Week 11. He'll be a low-end TE2 in Week 16 against the Browns.

Ed Dickson caught three passes for 47 yards in the Ravens' Week 13 win over the Browns.

He actually led Baltimore in both categories during an incredibly run-heavy affair on the Ravens' side. Dickson still hasn't been nearly productive enough to be worth even middle-range TE2 consideration against the Colts in Week 14.

Ed Dickson caught just one pass for 15 yards against the 49ers in Week 12.

Joe Flacco overthrew Dickson in the red zone and then came right back to him for a 15-yard reception that set up Dennis Pitta's 8-yard score. Those were Dickson's only two targets of the evening. Dickson has just three catches for 36 yards in two games since his 10-catch performance in Week 9.

Ed Dickson caught a career-high 10 passes for 79 yards and two touchdowns in the Ravens' Week 10 loss to Seattle.

Dickson's increased role was dictated by the defense. The Seahawks effectively took Anquan Boldin (2-22) and Torrey Smith (3-28) out of the game, leaving Dickson open over the middle and in the red area. It's worth noting the Seattle has struggled with coverage of tight ends all season. Dickson continues to lack explosive ability and is just a TE2 going forward. In seven games between Weeks 1 and 10, he had not scored a touchdown to this point.

Ravens TE Ed Dickson was shut down by the Steelers in Week 9, catching just two balls for eight yards.

Despite an average of just under seven targets per game, Dickson has failed to gain any real traction in fantasy leagues. He is on pace for 60 catches, but only 554 yards with just one touchdown on the year. That said, he makes for a good TE2 in PPR leagues.

The Ravens plan on using TE Ed Dickson and Dennis Pitta "quite a bit" on Sunday.

Ed Dickson hauled in six passes for 46 yards against the Cardinals in Week 8.

Dickson and Dennis Pitta (six catches, 44 yards) both saw an uptick in targets with the Ravens entering pass-heavy comeback mode down 24-6 at the half. On pace for 64 catches, 615 yards, and just two TDs, Dickson is merely a TE2 option heading into Week 9 against the Steelers.

Ed Dickson caught four balls for 23 yards in the Ravens' Week 7 loss to the Jaguars.

He scored a touchdown in Week 1 on a five-catch, 59-yard effort, but is now averaging 3.4 catches and 32.8 yards per game since. Even with 40 targets on the year he is distinctly a TE2.

Ed Dickson caught two passes for 20 yards in Sunday's win over the Texans.

Dickson was targeted just three times after drawing at least five looks in each of the Ravens' first four games. He's a good bet to bounce-back in Week 7, as he'll get a Jaguars' pass defense that has allowed fewer than five catches to an opposing team's TE1 just once in six games this season.

Ed Dickson caught four passes for 45 yards in Sunday's win over the Jets.

Dickson has now caught at least four passes in three of Baltimore's first four games, drawing 32 targets in the process. Joe Flacco has looked to his tight end more as the season has progressed, targeting Dickson five times a piece in Weeks 1 and 2 before looking his way nine times in Week 3 and 12 times tonight. On pace for 64 catches and 720 yards, Dickson should be one of the better waiver wire fill-ins out there with byes beginning in Week 5.

Ed Dickson caught five passes for 51 yards in Sunday's win over the Rams.

Dickson's nine targets were second to only Anquan Boldin's 14. He's seen an increase in looks each week this season, drawing five in Week 1 and six in Week 2 before today's nine. He's clearly ahead of Dennis Pitta on the depth chart, and rapidly emerging as one of Joe Flacco's favorite pass catchers. He's a rock solid TE2.

Ed Dickson was held to just two receptions for 25 yards against the Titans in Week 2.

The good news is that Dickson remains one of Joe Flacco's favorite receivers, finishing with six targets compared to Anquan Boldin's seven. With two catches of his own for 24 yards, Dennis Pitta nearly matched Dickson's production on three targets. Though he has high-end TE2 potential, Dickson can't be trusted as a fantasy starter just yet.