Vontaze Burfict Placed on Injured Reserve with Knee Injury

The Cincinnati Bengals find themselves in a tight race to win the AFC North this year, with all four teams in the division within 1.5 games of first place. Now, the Bengals will have to fight off their rivals without one of their top defensive players, as linebacker Vontaze Burfict has been placed on season-ending injured reserve.

The team's official Twitter account announced the news:

Burfict has been out of action since late October, when he underwent arthroscopic knee surgery. Still, the team was likely hoping he would be able to return at some point for its playoff push.

In all, Burfict will finish the 2014 NFL season having played just five games, accumulating 29 tackles, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery while battling multiple injuries. This certainly wasn't the season he or the Bengals would have hoped for after he signed a three-year, $20.05 million extension this summer.   

The new deal was certainly justified, as Burfict totaled 298 tackles, four sacks and an interception in his first two seasons with the team after he was signed as an undrafted free agent in 2012. Big things were expected of the young linebacker, but they'll unfortunately have to wait until next season to materialize.