The Cincinnati Bengals have officially parted ways with wide receiver Jermaine Burton, releasing the second-year player on Monday-just one day after suspending him for missing the team’s trip to Buffalo.
Burton, who was inactive for the first 12 games of the season (mostly as a healthy scratch), didn’t travel with the team Saturday for what the Bengals described as non-injury reasons. That absence led to a suspension for Sunday’s game and, ultimately, the decision to move on from the former third-round pick.
Head coach Zac Taylor kept things tight-lipped when asked about the situation, offering little in terms of specifics. “Just a decision to make,” Taylor said. “We just made it, going to release him and move on and wish him the best.”
This marks a disappointing end to what once looked like a promising chapter. The Bengals took a chance on Burton in the 2024 NFL Draft, selecting him in the third round despite some off-field concerns that dated back to his college days at Georgia and Alabama. There was always talent-explosiveness, speed, playmaking ability-but the consistency and professionalism never quite caught up.
As a rookie, Burton struggled to grasp the playbook and was frequently late or absent from meetings and practices. Those issues continued into the regular season, where he was mostly relegated to the bench.
Still, there were flashes. He played in 14 games last year and managed four receptions for 107 yards-enough to hint at the upside if everything ever clicked.
The Bengals hoped that moment was coming. During the offseason program this spring, Burton showed signs of growth.
Coaches noticed a more focused, committed version of the young wideout. Taylor, in particular, was optimistic about what Burton could become.
But that progress didn’t carry over into the 2025 season.
Leading up to his release, Burton’s availability remained inconsistent. He was inactive for the first 11 games as a healthy scratch, then briefly appeared on the injury report with an ankle issue following a walkthrough before the Thanksgiving game in Baltimore. He returned to practice last week, but the final straw came when he failed to travel with the team to Buffalo-a move that prompted his suspension and, the next day, his release.
This wasn’t the first time Burton’s reliability came into question. He was inactive for a game against the Raiders last November after missing a walkthrough, and he didn’t make the trip to Pittsburgh for the 2024 season finale for similar reasons. There’s a pattern here, and ultimately, the Bengals decided enough was enough.
Taylor emphasized that the team had invested time and effort into helping Burton succeed. “I think everybody worked really hard at it and wish him the best,” he said. “Hopefully he gets a change of scenery, and it can do good things for him.”
There’s no denying Burton has the raw talent to contribute at the NFL level. But in a league where preparation, accountability, and consistency are just as important as athleticism, the former third-rounder couldn’t put it all together in Cincinnati.
Now, he’ll look for a fresh start elsewhere. The Bengals, meanwhile, move forward-still searching for depth at wide receiver, but no longer waiting on potential that never quite materialized.