CINCINNATI (AP) — Linebacker Vontaze Burfict is back on the Cincinnati Bengals‘ active roster after serving a four-game suspension for violating the NFL’s performance-enhancer policy.He’s glad to be back Renell Wren Cincinnati Bengals Jersey , even doing some work with special teams. He watched his teammates pull out a 37-36 win at Atlanta last Sunday on Andy Dalton’s touchdown pass to A.J. Green with 7 seconds left in regulation.“Of course, I missed it,” Burfict said before Friday’s practice. “My daughter came downstairs and said, ‘Daddy, we won.'”Burfict is expected to play Sunday when the Bengals (3-1) host Miami (3-1). Cincinnati is aiming to extend its best start since winning eight straight games in 2015.Burfict’s next snap will be his first of the season. He had an ankle injury that limited him during training camp, and he sat out all four preseason games before leaving the team for a month to serve his suspension.How much he’ll play is unknown, but he has a history of piling up snaps in similar circumstances.He was in for 36 plays against Pittsburgh in his first game in 2015 after missing six following knee surgery Trayveon Williams Jersey 2019 , 34 against the Dolphins in 2016 after missing three games following an NFL suspension for egregious hits, and 52 at Cleveland last season in his first game following another three-game NFL suspension for an egregious hit.“When you get out there, you want to be competitive,” said the former Arizona State player, who’s preparing for his seventh NFL season. “You don’t have to play every play. We’ve got enough good linebackers that it gives me a chance to get out for a couple of plays.”The Bengals activated Burfict after Friday’s practice. They hope he can shore up a defense that ranks 29th in the 32-team NFL in yards allowed and last in opponents’ third-down conversions while giving up the 10th-most points in the league.“I think we’ll be all right,” Burfict said. “Every game, there are always two or three plays that get messed up. Last year Trayveon Williams Jersey Mens , the other teams wouldn’t score on those plays. This year, they’re scoring sometimes.”Burfict expects his biggest contribution might be his fiery personality — the same intensity that has led in the past to penalty-causing, suspension-inducing hits.“I’m a vocal leader,” he said. “I’ll add my little two cents. I think that can help.”Temperatures in the mid-80s are forecast for Paul Brown Stadium, which could affect Burfict’s stamina. But he believes the conditioning he maintained during the suspension will help him stay on the field. He also doesn’t anticipate needing much time to adjust to first-year defensive coordinator Teryl Austin’s system.“Football’s football,” he said. “The playbook’s the playbook. Your man is your man. His system is similar, but it’s different. You’ve got to get used to his calling of the game. It’s going to happen. It might take a couple of games.”BERNARD RULED OUT: Running back Giovani Bernard didn’t practice on Friday and was ruled out for Sunday’s game Youth Trayveon Williams Jersey , leaving Joe Mixon with a bigger role in his return. Mixon missed the last two games following arthroscopic surgery to remove a cartilage chip from his right knee. He returned to practice this week. Receiver John Ross also was ruled out with a groin injury. Tight end Tyler Eifert went on injured reserve with a broken right ankle suffered Sunday at Atlanta. Could a bigger role be in store for the fourth-year receiver?"WhiteFanposts Fanshots Sections #BITESIZEFilm RoomRoster Transactions and ContractsOrange & Black InsiderSalary Cap And CBANFL NewsBengals NewsReport: Bengals have rejected trade offers for WR Alex EricksonNew,79commentsCould a bigger role be in store for the fourth-year receiver?EDTShareTweetShareShareReport: Bengals have rejected trade offers for WR Alex EricksonDale Zanine-USA TODAY SportsJohn Ross isn’t the only Bengals pass-catcher that other NFL franchises have apparently inquired about a trade this offseason.On former NFL executive Michael Lombardi and Adnan Virk’s podcast The GM Shuffle, Lombardi mentioned that teams have tried to trade for Bengals slot receiver Alex Erickson this offseason.In a segment regarding potential fantasy breakout receivers, this is what Lombardi had to say about Erickson:“I think he’s the Cooper Kupp for Andy Dalton. ...They won’t trade this guy. This guy’s a really good player. ...teams have tried to trade for him and they won’t trade him. They won’t trade him. ...I think he’s a really good player.”For what Lombardi is implying, it appears he thinks as highly of Erickson as the Bengals do.Realistically, it would be difficult to imagine the Bengals getting any type of compensation that would make trading Erickson worth their time. Despite originally being an undrafted free agent who earned a roster spot back in 2016, Erickson has a place in the Bengals’ wide receiver corps and as a kick returner. While he’s not athletically gifted or immeasurably talented as a receiver White Trayveon Williams Jersey , is he worth trading away for a late Day 3 pick? Probably not.But the praise Lombardi has for Erickson could be warranted if the Zac Taylor-led Bengals are more inclined to use him in the offense. While it’s outlandish on the surface to compare him to Kupp, Erickson’s potential production is higher than the production he’s given in his three years in Cincinnati. Lombardi mentions the Bengals needing Erickson to be Dalton’s main option in the slot ala Kupp for the Rams’ Jared Goff, but Tyler Boyd should more than suffice. Boyd could take on the flanker role on the outside and allow Erickson to squeeze into the starting lineup, or Erickson could just rotate more with Boyd and keep him fresh. Taylor will have options, that is for sure.Erickson is entering the first year of his two-year extension he signed last season, and it appears he isn’t leaving Cincinnati before that deal is up.