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Bengals' Lewis won't play 'too valuable' Burfict in preseason

Matt Kartozian / USA TODAY Sports

Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict is already set to miss the first three games of the season due to suspension, and head coach Marvin Lewis isn't risking anymore games missed.

Burfict missed the first six weeks of last season after starting the year on the PUP list. While he's allowed to partake in preseason action before his suspension, Lewis doesn't want to risk starting another season with an injured Burfict.

"I am not going to play Vontaze Burfict in the preseason," Lewis told reporters Tuesday, according to Paul Dehner Jr. of the Cincinnati Enquirer.

Despite his infamous postseason mistakes, Burfict played a big role in the Bengals defense. Lewis missed the four-year veteran's presence early last season, and as such has been taking offseason precautions.

"I kept him on the sideline as often as I could during this offseason," Lewis said. "I did everything I could during this offseason and I’m going to do the same thing this training camp. There’s no reason for us to risk him getting hurt. It’s hard because he’s so competitive we have to continue to hold him back. One day he gets it the next day he wants to fight me on it. That’s it.

"There’s just no reason for us to expose him to injury because he’s too valuable."

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