Walkthru: Burfict to return to Bengals practice today

The Enquirer has confirmed that Pro Bowl linebacker Vontaze Burfict will return to practice for the Cincinnati Bengals Thursday afternoon. He received medical clearance to resume activities from his surgeon, Dr. Neal ElAttrache, during a trip to California earlier in the week.

The 21-day "clock" on making a decision on Burfict now begins for the team. Burfict can work out under a roster exemption, but in order to activate him to the 53-man roster, the team will have to make a corresponding roster move by releasing a player.

But, the team could activate him and make that roster move as late as Saturday, before the team heads to Pittsburgh.

Burfict, who underwent microfracture surgery on his left knee over the winter, has not played for the Bengals since Oct. 26, 2014.

There are still several hurdles the Pro Bowler must overcome to play, though he has now passed the first two.

Receive medical clearance. Receive clearance to practice by the team.

The Bengals and head coach Marvin Lewis will now use the next three days to determine if he is ready to play on Sunday in Pittsburgh – which is the next step.

Should Burfict be deemed ready to play, and with the next game just four days later at home against Cleveland, he would be closely monitored to see how his knee reacts to that first game action in over a year. How his knee reacts to game play is the final step in this process for the linebacker.

As for expectation levels should he play, Burfict told The Enquirer back in September that even he wouldn't expect himself to be ready to handle a full game workload.

"I'm pretty sure it's going to be a tough game," Burfict said. "Who hasn't played in a year and come plays 70, 80 snaps in one game? So I'm just looking forward to contributing as much as I can."

Burfict will be a welcome addition to a defense that currently ranks 22nd in the NFL in total defense and 11th in points allowed. The team is 16th against the run and 21st against the pass.

Instant reaction

I've been pretty conservative in my "when is Burfict coming back?" answers, largely because of what I've seen and what I've been told from people who know.

As of today, he is hitting Lewis' initial timeline of being ready for Pittsburgh, but Burfict did just receive medical clearance on Wednesday. So while he's technically right on schedule, it clearly wasn't as cut and dry as the team would have liked. I'm curious to see how the coaches feel about his readiness to play. I don't doubt that they knew who they would cut the moment this would happen, but they'll only do that if they feel Burfict can be a contributor on the 46-man active roster. I can't see them activating him, cutting a healthy player (and perhaps one who has already contributed on the field) and then leaving him on the sideline Sunday.

I'll give Dave Lapham credit -- he's been banging the drum for two weeks about Burfict returning for Sunday. From what I had heard, that wasn't as sure a deal as it sounded. But, the linebacker is back now -- and the next part of the waiting game begins. The "littler" waiting room...

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