This is why the Bengals signed veteran linebacker A.J. Hawk in free agency and why they drafted Texas Christian linebacker P.J. Dawson in the third round and why they’ve been close-mouthed about Pro Bowl WILL backer Vontaze Burfict.
They simply don’t know when he’ll be ready to play in the wake of January’s micro fracture knee surgery. His doctor said then they were shooting to make it back by July, but after Tuesday’s first practice of the spring voluntary season head coach Marvin Lewis said Burfict is going to rehab all summer long.
How that rehab goes is going to answer the question if he’ll be for training camp July 31.