The Facts: After consulting with doctors in Los Angeles, Eifert has decided to undergo season-ending back surgery, a source tells ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Diehards Line: Eifert has sat out the last three Bengals games with a back injury and he’s reportedly mulling a course of action that would keep him out for a lot longer. The operation, which will be Eifert’s third, is worth noting because he'll end the year having missed 22 games over the last two years and 41 games over the course of his five-year NFL career. That’s made things tough from a planning standpoint for the Bengals and it will leave Eifert without much hope of landing more than a one-year deal when he hits free agency next spring. Tyler Kroft has stepped into the lead tight end role with Eifert injured and has 14 catches for 139 yards and two touchdowns so far this season.