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UPDATE
As the Bengals hit the practice field Wednesday for a fully-padded session, linebacker Vontaze Burfict and guard Kevin Zeitler participated. Zeitler has missed the past two games while recovering from a torn calf muscle.
Burfict also missed the past two games after suffering two concussions in the first two games.
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The Bengals may be getting some great news today, as Pro Bowl linebacker Vontaze Burfict may be back on the field for his first practice in weeks, to prepare for the Carolina Panthers.
word on Tez is close to working when Bengals return to practice Wednesday afternoon
— Geoff Hobson (@GeoffHobsonCin) October 8, 2014
Burfict hasn't fully practiced for three weeks now, so he needs to get at least two days worth of practice in this week to come close to being 100%, if he's even able to play Sunday.
If Burfict doesn't play Sunday, that will leave Vincent Rey to get his third-straight start, after he filled in nicely in the Week 3 win over the Titans, but struggled Sunday vs. the Patriots. The emergence of Emmanuel Lamur has helped offset the loss of Burfict, though he too struggled Sunday vs. New England.
Then again, the whole defense struggled vs. the Patriots. Even if Burfict returns this week, it's going to collectively take a better effort to perform better than what we saw Sunday.