Vontaze Burfict won't make it back from knee surgery this season.
The Cincinnati Bengalsplaced the veteran linebacker on season-ending injured reserve on Tuesday. Burfict never returned to action after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his knee in October.
Burfict was initially expected to only miss a few weeks following the procedure, but the recovery process has taken longer than expected. In all, Burfict missed six games after the surgery, in addition to two missed games earlier in the season due to a concussion.
It amounts to a lost season for Burfict, who signed a lucrative four-year extension before the season. He didn't miss a game in his first two years in the league, earning a Pro Bowl nod in 2013.
In a corresponding move, the Bengals activated rookie quarterback AJ McCarron. The former Alabama star had been on the non-football injury list with a shoulder issue. Consider it very bad news for the Bengals if McCarron takes any snaps this season.
The latest Around The NFL Podcast recaps every Sunday game from Week 14 and discusses the Seahawks' return to Super Bowl form. Find more Around The NFL content on NFL NOW.