Vontaze Burfict Injury: Updates on Bengals Star's Neck and Return

Updates from Sunday, Oct. 26

Jay Morrison of Cox Media Group confirms Vontaze Burfict is active for Week 8:

Updates from Friday, Oct. 24

Jason Butt of the National Football Post reported on Vontaze Burfict's status for this week:

Adam Caplan of ESPN reported on the process to clear Burfict:

Updates from Wednesday, Oct. 22

Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com passed along an update on Vontaze Burfict from practice:

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Pro Bowl WILL linebacker Vontaze Burfict, who suffered a cervical strain last Sunday in Indianapolis, worked in the uniform of the day, helmets and shoulder pads.  

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Updates from Monday, Oct. 20

ESPN's Coley Harvey provides a synopsis of Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis discussing Vontaze Burfict's injury status:

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Last year's leading tackler for the Bengals is having a difficult time staying on the field this season. 

Vontaze Burfict was removed from the Bengals' Week 7 contest against the Colts after suffering a neck injury:

Pro Football Talk later revealed what the diagnosis is for Burfict: 

Burfict's health was the subject of consternation among Bengals fans earlier in the season after he picked up two concussions in the span of a week. He passed all of the concussion protocols to play in Week 2, but left the game with what was labelled at the time as a stinger. Later, he was diagnosed with a concussion.

Burfict led the league in tackles in 2013 with 171 and was named to his first Pro Bowl team in addition to earning All-Pro status. Since signing with the Bengals as an undrafted free agent in 2012, the former Arizona State Sun Devil wasted little time emerging as one of Cincinnati's leaders on the defensive side of the ball.

Despite him entering only his third year in the league, Burfict's teammates voted him as one of the team's captains for 2014. That's a strong statement considering the quality of talent on that side of the ball for the Bengals.

"He's a smart kid. He knows football, he understands the big picture," said Cincinnati's linebackers coach Paul Guenther, per Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com. "He understands what the offense is trying to do. Guys say, 'Wow, this guy really knows his stuff.' And now guys look up to him."

The Bengals have one of the better defenses in the league, so losing Burfict will hurt, but it's far from crippling.

Cincinnati harbors Super Bowl hopes, though, and in order for that to happen, the star linebacker will need to stay on the field and overcome his various health troubles in 2014.