The Cincinnati Bengals are planning for tight end Tyler Eifert to make his season debut Sunday against the Cleveland Browns on a limited snap count, a source told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.
Eifert missed the first few games of the year while recovering from offseason ankle surgery, and his return was further delayed when he suffered a back injury during practice heading into Week 5.
Though the limited workload suggests the Bengals are maintaining caution in his return, even a rotational role could provide a significant upgrade in third-down and red-zone passing situations.
Eifert is coming off a 2015 campaign in which his 52 receptions for 615 yards and 13 touchdowns earned him the first Pro Bowl nod of his career.
After taking a few games to settle in and find his rhythm, it likely won't be long before he reemerges as the No. 2 target for the Bengals' passing attack behind star receiver A.J. Green.