Tyler Eifert says he won’t play in Pro Bowl again after injury

Bengals tight end Tyler Eifert says he’ll never play in the Pro Bowl again after seriously injuring his ankle in last season’s game.

Bengals tight end Tyler Eifert told reporters on Friday that he’ll never play in the Pro Bowl again.

After tearing ligaments in his ankle in last season’s game, Eifert says he won’t attend if invited again. He had ankle surgery in May and is still questionable for the Bengals’ opener Sept. 11 against the Jets. He said his protective boot will come off the foot next week, but that there’s no timetable for his return yet.

“It was a great week, but I don’t want to risk going through this again,” Eifert said ahead of the Bengals’ first practice. “It’s not worth it.”​

Eifert said he enjoyed the week and being able to spend time with the league’s elite players away from the field, but emphasized the inherent risk with the game itself. He said he would participate in a skills competition if there was no actual game involved.

“It was a lot of fun,” he said. “A good reward. Then it comes to Sunday, you’re on the bus and it’s like, ‘We have to go play a game?”

Eifert led all tight ends with 13 touchdown catches last season.