07-25-2018, 03:55 PM
CINCINNATI (WKRC) - Bengals coaches once again have to plan their preseason around the concept of not having linebacker Vontaze Burfict for the first four games of the season, while Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster is already planning for Burfict's return.
Burfict was suspended by the NFL for the first four games of the season for violating the league's policy on performance-enhancing substances. It marks the third straight season that Burfict will miss games at the start. He was suspended for the first five games of the 2017 regular season due to a hit he made on Kansas City Chiefs fullback Anthony Sherman in the second preseason game, but the suspension was reduced to three games on appeal. He missed the first three games of the 2016 regular season due to repeated violations of player safety rules.
Burfict is eligible to participate in all training camp practices and preseason games. Although Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis declined to say how much game action Burfict would see, he said there is plan in place to get both him ready for the season and get the player who will replace him for the first four games ready as well.
"Unfortunately we're probably too experienced at it," said Lewis. "With him (out), as I've said in the past, there has to become an identity with the other guys because, 'Vontaze, you're not going to be there.' So these guys, (newcomer) Preston (Brown) and so forth, they've got become the identity of the football team. That's so important for Preston to go ahead and ascend and to continue to grow. He's given Vontaze his space but now he's going to have to go and take over."
Full article
Burfict was suspended by the NFL for the first four games of the season for violating the league's policy on performance-enhancing substances. It marks the third straight season that Burfict will miss games at the start. He was suspended for the first five games of the 2017 regular season due to a hit he made on Kansas City Chiefs fullback Anthony Sherman in the second preseason game, but the suspension was reduced to three games on appeal. He missed the first three games of the 2016 regular season due to repeated violations of player safety rules.
Burfict is eligible to participate in all training camp practices and preseason games. Although Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis declined to say how much game action Burfict would see, he said there is plan in place to get both him ready for the season and get the player who will replace him for the first four games ready as well.
"Unfortunately we're probably too experienced at it," said Lewis. "With him (out), as I've said in the past, there has to become an identity with the other guys because, 'Vontaze, you're not going to be there.' So these guys, (newcomer) Preston (Brown) and so forth, they've got become the identity of the football team. That's so important for Preston to go ahead and ascend and to continue to grow. He's given Vontaze his space but now he's going to have to go and take over."
Full article
