CINCINNATI — Vontaze Burfict has proven to be a master at learning X’s and O’s. It’s the yes’s and no’s that Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator Paul Guenther can’t seem to get through to his Pro Bowl linebacker.

Specifically, no lowering your head when making a tackle.

Burfict did it again Sunday in Indianapolis and he — and the Bengals — paid the price when he suffered a neck injury that ended his day late in the first quarter of a 27-0 loss.

“He’s got to get it right,” Guenther said, “He can’t keep coming out of games. Like I told him: It’s ridiculous. When I’m counting on him to play, he’s got to keep his face up.”

Burfict has played just 33 percent of the defensive snaps this year after being on the field for 96 percent of them a year ago.

His first-quarter exit Sunday in Indianapolis – which was the result of lowering his head to hit quarterback Andrew Luck – was particularly troubling because the Bengals were already without injured starters Rey Maualuga and Emmanuel Lamur.

“When he starts the game and comes out, it affects everything,” Guenther said. “It affects me, it affects the unit, it affects the linebacking crew. So yes, I’m trying to do the best I can with him.

“But sometimes it’s like telling a dog not to eat red meat,” Guenther added. “He’s got to do it.”

Guenther, who was the Bengals’ linebackers coach the previous two seasons, has been working with Burfict on his technique since he the linebacker signed as an undrafted college free agent in 2012.

“I talked to him as his position coach way before all this happened,” Guenther said. “It does us no good with him sitting on the sideline after five snaps. It does us more harm than good. So he’s got to learn to do it for him and for the team and for everyone involved.

“It’s not the easiest thing, I’ll tell you that,” Guenther added. “It isn’t easy, but he’s got to understand the ramifications of it.”

MEDICAL WATCH: WR A.J. Green (toe) made his first appearance on the rehab field at practice Wednesday and has a chance to play for the first time in three games Sunday against Baltimore. … LB Vontaze Burfict (neck) and RB Giovani Bernard (ribs) were limited. … CB Leon Hall (back) and DE Robert Geathers (toe) did not practice. … DT Brandon Thompson (knee) practiced for the first time since leaving the Sept. 14 game against Atlanta. He was listed as limited. … LB Emmanuel Lamur (shoulder) returned to practice and was limited Wednesday after missing Sunday’s game in Indianapolis.

SERIES HISTORY: 38th regular-season meeting. Ravens lead the series, 20-17, but the Bengals have won three of the last four overall and four of the last five at Paul Brown Stadium. Cincinnati won the previous meeting this season, 23-16, in the season opener.

GAME PLAN: The Bengals won’t be facing the offensive juggernaut they did last week in Indianapolis, but unless they get their defensive shored up every team has a chance to be explosive.

Cincinnati has to find a way to slow down Ravens running back Justin Forsett, who has averaged 5.8 yards per carry the last three weeks and is on pace for 1,149 yards. And the Bengals have to get some pressure on quarterback Joe Flacco, which is something they had success with in the opener with three sacks and seven hits.

Offensively, they have to find a way to get the ball down the field. If A.J. Green is able to return, his threat alone will loosen up the Baltimore defense. But if Green is unable to go, the Cincinnati receivers have to do a much better job of winning their one-on-one battles than they did in the shutout loss at Indianapolis.

MATCHUPS TO WATCH:

Ravens LB Terrell Suggs and Bengals LT Andrew Whitworth have been going at each other twice a year since 2006, and the ledger is fairly even. Whichever player wins their head-to-head battle usually leads his team to a win as well.

Bengals DT Geno Atkins, who has yet to register a sack this year and didn’t record a single sack or even a quarterback hurry despite playing 55 snaps last week, vs. Baltimore C Jeremy Zuttah, who has graded poorly each of the past two weeks.

Ravens CB Lardarius Webb, who had interceptions in both games against Cincinnati last year but didn’t play in the season opener, vs. Bengals QB Andy Dalton, who has thrown seven interceptions in his last four home games.