BENGALS NEWS NOW: Like our Facebook page to join the conversation
Eifert, who was one of a handful of Bengals players who were not present today for the team's first OTA practice, suffered the ankle injury during the fourth quarter of the Pro Bowl, but it didn't appear to be serious at the time. He left Aloha Stadium in Honolulu in a walking boot and said he would be fine.
This is the latest setback for the team’s first round pick in 2013.
Eifert appeared in 15 games as a rookie, but he was limited to eight snaps by a season-ending elbow injury in the 2014 season opener. He missed three games last year, one due to a stinger and two because of a concussion, but still set the Bengals franchise record for touchdown receptions by a tight end (13) and finished third on the team in receptions (52) and receiving yards (615) to earn his first Pro Bowl nod.
If Eifert is unable to play Sept. 11 at New York, it means the Bengals will open the season without three of their four leading receivers from a year ago with Marvin Jones and Mohamed Sanu leaving in free agency.
Tyler Kroft, the team’s third-round pick last year, would move into the starting role with C.J. Uzomah, last year’s fifth-round pick, filling the role of backup.