Jim Owczarski

jowczarski@enquirer.com

This is the first of a five-part series discussing the five most pressing questions the team must answer during training camp this season. Camp kicks off at the practice fields adjacent Paul Brown Stadium on July 29.

One of the biggest question marks on the offensive side of the ball for the Cincinnati Bengals heading into training camp is the health of tight end Tyler Eifert, and where he is in his rehabilitation schedule as the weeks go on in the run up to the regular season.

Eifert had surgery on his right ankle on May 27 after an injury suffered at the Pro Bowl on Jan. 31 did not recover as hoped.

At the time of the procedure, the plan was for him to be ready for the Sept. 11 regular season opener in New York. But, there remains the possibility he could miss games should the rehabilitation process take longer than expected.

A little over eight weeks following the surgery and on the eve of training camp, a league source said Eifert’s rehab is on schedule and progressing as planned.

Tyler Eifert key to Bengals' attack

Typically, Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis doesn’t allow a player to suit up on Sundays unless he participates in practice in some capacity that week, so a key marker for Eifert and his potential return will be when he is able to jump back into some kind of team drills in later in the preseason.

The Bengals will have to begin to answer the question of where Eifert is in his rehab schedule when the calendar flips to September in order to make decisions on the role of second-year tight ends Tyler Kroft and C.J. Uzomah, as well as H-back Ryan Hewitt, and how that affects the offense.

Specifically, how new offensive coordinator Ken Zampese will map out red zone plays and how quarterback Andy Dalton will distribute the ball.

While it is true that there are always initial timelines given for rehab after surgeries, each body reacts to recovery differently. Being able to have a firm grasp on how Eifert’s rehab is going late in the summer will be important.