Marvin Lewis: 'Vontaze Burfict still a long way from fitness'

Cincinnati Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis has conceded that linebacker Vontaze Burfict still faces a long road to recovery following surgery on his knee.

The 24-year-old was limited to just five games in the 2014 campaign as he struggled with a knee injury, which forced him to undergo microfracture surgery in January.

Reports suggested that the linebacker could be fit by training camp in July, but Lewis has admitted that Burfict is still a long way from fitness.

"Vontaze will be in rehab all the way through the summer," Lewis told reporters. "So he's got a long ways to go. He had surgery in January.

"That's a surgery that takes a bit. He's trying to beat the odds and do it quicker, but he's got a lot of work to do. It's part of the injury."

Burfict has recorded 327 tackles, four sacks and one interception in his three seasons in the NFL.