Lewis not confirming Burfict will play Thursday

CINCINNATI — The assumption was that when Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict’s three-game suspension ended he would jump back into his starting role and give the defense a spark.

But Bengals coach Marvin Lewis wouldn’t confirm whether Lewis would start Thursday night against Miami, much less play.

“Obviously he wants to play,” Lewis said. “We’ll bring him to the roster at some point on Wednesday or Thursday, but whether he plays or not we’ll decide later.”

Burfict went through a similar situation last year when he missed the first six games on the Physically Unable to Perform list and then after just two days of practice played 36 of 75 snaps in a 16-10 win at Pittsburgh, recording solo tackles on the first two plays of the game.

But while he didn’t practice for the first month and a half of 2015, he was able to be around the team to lift and do rehab work. During the three-game suspension he was barred from the facility and was on his own to stay in shape.

Burfict contradicted Lewis on Monday when he said the plan was for him to play half the game. Then he added, “but I told coach if the game is close I don’t want to come out.”