Cincinnati Bengals LB Vontaze Burfict undergoes microfracture surgery

It’s two of the most dreaded words for a professional athlete: Microfracture surgery. Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict is recovering from the procedure.

Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict overcame some long odds when he went from undrafted free agent to Pro Bowler in two seasons.

So he’s familiar with what’s coming next.

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The third-year linebacker was limited to five games in 2014 because of knee problems and underwent microfracture surgery in an effort to correct damage to cartilage on the side of his knee, according to NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport.

Dr. Neal ElAttrache performed the procedure, in which tiny fractures were drilled into bone in Burfict’s knee in order to facilitate the growth of new cartilage.

“I don’t see any reason, if this thing heals like we want and we think it will, why he won’t be back like he was,” ElAttrache said. “Microfracture has a bad connotation, but there are plenty of guys who have come back and been able to play like before. But it’s not really news when it works out.”

Burfict had knee surgery in October, but the problem persisted.

According to ElAttrache, the problem stems from cartilage damage on the femur bone that created a blister. The persistent swelling caused by the blister wore out the cartilage.

Burfict will spend the next six weeks on crutches, with a goal of being able to begin running after three months.

Depending on how quickly his recovery goes, Burfict could be able to participate at some level during minicamp this spring.

Burfict went undrafted out of Arizona State in 2012, despite a career which included being named the Pac-10 Defensive Freshman of the Year and being hailed as the top linebacker in the nation by many observers as a sophomore.

But he regressed as a junior and his senior campaign was marked by disciplinary problems and clashes with the coaching staff of the Sun Devils.

It was still a shock that he never came off the draft board in 2012 and the Bengals wasted no time signing him after the draft concluded.

He wound up starting 14 games for Cincinnati as a rookie, registering 127 tackles, a sack and two passes defensed.

That was followed by a breakout campaign in 2013, when Burfict had 171 tackles, three sacks, six passes defensed, an interception and a forced fumble.

That earned him a trip to his first Pro Bowl.

Limited to five games last season, he had 29 tackles, two passes defensed and forced a fumble.

It’s two of the most dreaded words for a professional athlete: Microfracture surgery. Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict is recovering from the procedure.

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