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Ed Dickson, Matt Furstenburg Stand Out During Practice

Ed Dickson and Matt Furstenburg each made big plays as receiving tight ends on Wednesday.

Ed Dickson, along with Matt Furstenburg, stood out at the tight end position on Wednesday.
Ed Dickson, along with Matt Furstenburg, stood out at the tight end position on Wednesday.
USA TODAY Sports

Those watching Baltimore's Wednesday practice got a glimpse of how the tight ends might be utilized without Dennis Pitta in the lineup.

Ed Dickson and Matt Furstenburg each hauled in deep passes during practice, with Dickson catching just about everything thrown his way. Dickson made a presence felt down the seam, catching a deep pass from Joe Flacco on one occasion.

He also showed off his ability as a check down target in the flat. His presence lined up as an inside receiver looked like it could potentially cause mismatches against slower linebackers. To sum up, Dickson had his best practice of the preseason.

"I thought Ed practiced extremely well," coach John Harbaugh said. "Ed is talented, Ed has worked really hard and I'm glad he's going to get an opportunity to show what he can do."

Midway through practice, Furstenburg showed why he had the second-fastest 40-yard dash time for a tight end at the NFL combine. On a seam route, Furstenburg was able to get behind the defense and receive a deep touchdown from backup quarterback Tyrod Taylor.

"Matt has really improved from the minicamp," Harbaugh said. "He just didn't play fast in the minicamp. I think it was more mental than anything else. Now, he's learned what he is doing and he's made some plays. It seems like he is getting more confident every single day and he's doing a really good job. He's playing himself into a possible opportunity to make the team."

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