Eifert returns from back surgery, will rehab in Cincinnati

Cincinnati Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis confirmed that tight end Tyler Eifert has had season-ending back surgery in California last week and will do his rehab in Cincinnati.

“We tried to stave this off as long as we could and tried to allow him the opportunity to come back and feel better and get right and confer with different people, and it just didn’t work out that way,” Lewis said. “I know things went well. He got back here yesterday. He feels good. He was told that this was needed, so now it’s his opportunity to continue to get himself healthy. He’s still young in his career and has the opportunity to continue to blossom.”

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Eifert, who had back surgery in December heading into the final year of his contract, caught four passes for 46 yards before re-injuring his back in the Week 2 loss to Houston.

The Bengals placed Eifert on Injured Reserve on Oct. 12.

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“It’s tough for him,” quarterback Andy Dalton said of Eifert, who will have appeared in 39 of a possible 80 games since the Bengals drafted him in the first round in 2013.

“I feel for him,” Dalton added. “He’s had the injuries that have held him back in a lot of games and a lot of chances to play. The biggest thing he can do is try to get his body feeling right.”

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