As training camps open across the NFL, one big question facing the Bengals continues to be the health of Tyler Eifert.
After suffering an ankle injury in the 2016 Pro Bowl, Eifert spent the next four months trying to rehab from the injury, but after his ankle failed to heal properly, he was forced to undergo a surgical procedure. While the full details of the surgery are not clear, Eifert has spent much of the past three months in a walking boot.
The good news is the boot will come off next week, Eifert revealed on Friday. He also admitted that playing in another Pro Bowl is not something he will do. We can't blame him and wouldn't want him to ever risk an injury in a meaningless game again.
Tyler Eifert on Pro Bowl: "I don't want to risk going through this again." @fox19 #Bengals pic.twitter.com/sBhEpNZAGd
— Jeremy Rauch (@FOX19Jeremy) July 29, 2016
Eifert says boot comes off in a week
— Geoff Hobson (@GeoffHobsonCin) July 29, 2016
Eifert talking. Says no timetable. Also says never will play in Pro Bowl again if asked. Not worth it. #Bengals
— Jay Morrison (@JayMorrisonCMG) July 29, 2016
This is just the latest in a string of injuries Eifert has endured over his first three NFL seasons. A stinger and concussion led to him seeing limited action at the end of the 2015 season as he finished with 13 touchdowns, which was still a team record for touchdowns by a tight end, and led all tight ends in the NFL.
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Eifert also finished with 52 receptions for 615 yards on just 72 targets, good for a 72-percent catch rate. That was good enough to earn him a spot in the Pro Bowl, though he clearly wishes that honor had never come to him.
This is the second-straight offseason that Eifert will have spent recovering from a major injury and subsequent surgery. A dislocated elbow and torn shoulder labrum in 2014 forced him to miss all but one quarter of the season and much of the 2015 offseason, though he returned to have a Pro Bowl season in 2015.
The hope is Eifert will have a similar bounceback in 2016, though it remains to be seen if he'll suit up for Week 1 vs the Jets. Most offseason speculation has been that Week 1 is probably too soon of a return for Eifert, and there's no certainty he'll be ready for Week 2 vs the Steelers or even Week 3 vs the Broncos.
That's easily the toughest three-game stretch the Bengals will have in 2016, and that's even more true if Eifert misses one or more of the games. We'll keep you posted on any and all Eifert injury updates.