Vontaze Burfict Injury: Updates on Bengals LB's Concussion and Return

Updates from Sunday, Sept. 14

Jay Adams of AtlantaFalcons.com confirms Vontaze Burfict is active for today's game:

"

BENGALS INACTIVES
WR 82 - Marvin Jones 
RB 33 - Rex Burkhead 
LB 56 - Sean Porter 
DE 93 - Will Clarke 
OL 60 - T.J. Johnson 
OT 77 - Tanner Hawkinson

"

Updates from Friday, Sept. 12

Coley Harvey of ESPN has an update on Burfict: 

Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com adds more:

Updates from Thursday, Sept. 11

Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com reported on Vontaze Burfict from practice on Thursday:

Updates from Wednesday, Sept. 10

Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com updated Vontaze Burfict's status at Wednesday's practice:

Original Text

For the time being, the Cincinnati Bengals defense will have to get by without one of its top defenders.

Third-year linebacker Vontaze Burfict, who signed a three-year extension in the offseason that pays him $20 million over the next four seasons, was forced from Sunday's game against the Baltimore Ravens after suffering a head injury.   

Coley Harvey of ESPN provides the news:

Burfict was later downgraded to out (via Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun):

Chris Sprow of ESPN shared an image of the play where Burfict suffered the injury:

Undrafted out of Arizona State in 2012, it took Burfict just two years to establish himself as one of the best linebackers in the NFL. He led the league with 171 combined tackles in 2013, earning a spot on the Associated Press All-Pro second team. 

Equal parts physical run-stopper and high-IQ leader, Burfict is an integral part to this defense. 

"It's something born in him, you can't coach a player to naturally react the way he does in all situations," said Marvin Lewis at the time of the new deal, via the team's Instagram account. "This signing is a great move for the future of our defense."

If Burfict is forced to miss any time, youngsters Sean Porter and Marquis Flowers will get opportunities to prove themselves in the "Will" linebacker position. 

While each player offers some upside, this is still obviously a major downgrade for the Bengals if the injury proves to be serious.