Bengals cut ties with disputed WR prospect Jermaine Burton after continued off-field concerns
But here's where it gets controversial: Cincinnati has officially released Jermaine Burton, the team’s 2024 third-round pick, marking the end of a tenure that was beleaguered from the start. Burton did not travel with the Bengals on their trip to Buffalo for a 39-34 defeat to the Bills, as the club prepared to suspend him for the game. That suspension meant he would miss a game check, and head coach Zac Taylor later confirmed that Burton would no longer be with the team.
Taylor offered a measured note, wishing Burton well and hoping a change of scenery might unlock better outcomes for him. The decision provides a clean slate for both sides after a rocky introduction to pro football.
The draft selection in 2024 had already stirred questions about Burton’s character. His college career spanned Georgia and Alabama, and in 2022 he faced a high-profile incident where he struck a female student following a college football victory. The university later stated Burton acknowledged the error and insisted it would not define him. He spoke about his past, emphasizing his family and the drive to play football for them, when he was picked by Cincinnati in April 2024.
Yet his pro career didn’t take off. During his rookie season, Burton was a healthy scratch for Week 9 against the Raiders after missing a walkthrough the day before, and he didn’t travel for the regular-season finale vs. the Steelers. Investigations later surfaced noting his involvement in two separate domestic-violence allegations in December 2024, though no charges were filed.
In the ensuing offseason, Bengals de facto GM Duke Tobin expressed not quitting on Burton, hoping development would emerge. Quarterback Joe Burrow echoed cautious optimism, noting Burton appeared to have shifted his approach and seemed more focused both mentally and physically. Burrow highlighted maturity and hard work as encouraging signs heading into Burton’s second season.
Still, questions persisted. Burton was late to a practice in Week 4 and spent most of the season as a healthy scratch. A string of health issues also kept him from contributing, including an illness that kept him from the Week 11 trip and a separate ankle injury ahead of the Thanksgiving road contest against the Ravens. Despite these setbacks, Burton maintained a wish to contribute and to prove himself capable of helping the team.
Ultimately, Burton concluded his Bengals chapter with 14 appearances, all occurring during his rookie year. Taylor indicated that moving on represented the best path forward for both the player and the organization.
Burton’s exit leaves the Bengals seeking a fresh start with their receiving corps, and it opens space for others to step up as the team recalibrates its offseason plans.
