The Cincinnati Bengals are looking to get back on the right track after coming off a disappointing 45-10 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs last Sunday.
However, the Bengals will be without one of their top defensive players with linebacker Vontaze Burfict out of the mix due to a hip injury against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, according to Darin Gantt of Pro Football Talk.
The Bengals listed the linebacker among six players out for Sunday’s game against the Buccaneers.
Burfict left last week’s loss to the Chiefs with a hip injury, and didn’t return. Of course, Lewis being reticent about Burfict probably didn’t have anything to do with the injury status, but with the frustration of a player who hasn’t played as well.
The other five Bengals ruled out are linebacker Nick Vigil, cornerback Darqueze Dennard, running back Giovani Bernard, wide receiver John Ross, and tight end Tyler Kroft.
Burfict had exited last Sunday's game with the injury that didn't allow him to return to action in the contest. Since then, Cincinnati has been mum about the 28-year-old's availability against the Buccaneers. He has been limited to just three games this season where he has recorded 17 total tackles, but it hasn't been his lack of availability on the field that has caught much attention has been his continued questionable actions.
He had been hit with a $112,000 fine for a couple of hits against the Pittsburgh Steelers. These involved wide receiver Antonio Brown and running back James Conner during the third quarter of the contest. The hit on Brown saw him lower his shoulder while Brown was already being taken to the ground by a pair of teammates as he hit him on the head that led to the Steelers star wideout having to be temporarily taken out of the game.
His absence does leave a notable absence for the Bengals' defense as he has been a key piece to the puzzle over the last few years that has brought much stability to that part of the defense.
