Cincinnati Bengals Roster, Injury News 2017: Tight End Tyler Eifert Undergoes Season-Ending Back Surgery
Tyler Eifert's season has officially come to an end.
The Cincinnati Bengals have announced that the fifth-year tight end has decided to undergo surgery to repair a disc in his back and he's expected to miss the rest of the season while he recuperates.
Eifert has appeared in just two games this season and he will finish the campaign with four receptions for 46 yards. The team has already placed him on the injured reserve list.
"I think most guys who have had issues with their back, they continue to have issues with their back, particularly when they're playing competitive sports," Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said of Eifert a few weeks ago, via ESPN.
"But you have to learn to hopefully strengthen all the areas around so you minimize that. There are going to be some times when it's not quite right, but most guys are able to get enough relief to get back at it. So that's what we're hopeful of," he added.
According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Eifert met with renowned spine specialist Dr. Robert Watkins in Los Angeles before he made the decision to go under the knife. Schefter also noted that the tight end is expected to be out for four to six months.
Eifert also missed half of the 2016 season due to a lingering back injury and he had back surgery last December. However, the team has explained that his current back injury wasn't related to the one he had last year.
Still, a third procedure on his back sounds worrisome and some observers have already speculated that he may have played his last game in a Bengals uniform.
With Eifert out for the season, Tyler Kroft should continue to play on most of the Bengals' offensive snaps. The third-year pro has made 14 catches for 139 yards and two touchdowns in five games this season.
