Vontaze Burfict

Bengals coach says 'we'd have to lock him in a trunk' to keep Vontaze Burfict out

Published Nov. 15, 2016 2:06 p.m. ET

Cameron DaSilva

The Cincinnati Bengals kick off Week 4 on Thursday night against the Miami Dolphins. They’ll do so with a new stud defender on the field as they welcome back linebacker Vontze Burfict from his three-game suspension.

Burfict, of course, was suspended for his helmet-to-helmet hit on Antonio Brown in last season's playoffs, in addition to repeatedly violating safety-related rules. He hasn’t played or practiced in weeks, so there was some question about whether he’d be ready to get back on the field.

On Thursday morning, head coach Marvin Lewis assured everyone he’ll be out there.

“We'd have to lock him in a trunk if he didn't play, so yeah,” he said on SiriusXM NFL Radio. “Vontaze will play tonight. He's ready to go.”

Burfict brings a physical presence and a nasty attitude to the Bengals defense, which they could certainly use after falling to 1-2 early on. He needs to play under control, though. The Bengals can’t afford to take 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalties or unnecessary roughness flags on a regular basis, and Burfict has a history of drawing them.

Despite that notion, there’s no doubt he’ll elevate the Bengals’ defense when he’s out there.

“He raises the level of everyone in the huddle and on the team,” Lewis said.

Lewis admits that he’ll have to “gauge how much” Burfict plays, but “he’s raring to go.” Without Burfict, the Bengals have been middle-of-the-road defensively. They’re 15th in yards allowed, while also surrendering 25 points per game.

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Vontaze Burfict

Cincinnati Bengals

National Football League