Burton went without a target while playing two of the Bengals' 62 snaps on offense in Sunday's 44-38 loss to the Steelers. He also returned five kickoffs for 146 yards.
After logging double-digit snaps in both of the previous two contests, Burton saw his role get scaled back coming out of a Week 12 bye. Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins and Andrei Iosivas were all healthy and served as the Bengals' primary receivers in three-wide sets, leaving little room for Burton to pick up playing time. The third-round draft pick out of Georgia has had a quiet rookie season, suiting up in 10 of the Bengals' 12 games thus far while recording four receptions for 107 yards on 14 targets.
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Bengals' Jermaine Burton: One catch in loss
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Burton caught one of four targets for eight yards in Sunday's 34-27 loss to the Chargers.
Burton played just 18 of the Bengals' 82 offensive snaps as Cincinnati's No. 4 wideout, behind Ja'Marr Chase (81), Tee Higgins (69) and Andrei Iosivas (56). The rookie receiver has yet to take on a major role in the Bengals' passing attack, recording just four receptions for 107 yards on 14 targets in nine games. Going forward, Burton will likely continue to be the odd man out most weeks barring injuries to the wide receiving corps. The Bengals head into a Week 12 bye before squaring off against the Steelers in Week 13.
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Bengals' Jermaine Burton: Out of sync Thursday
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Burton caught one of five targets for 11 yards in a Week 10 loss to the Ravens on Thursday Night Football. He also returned a kickoff for 17 yards.
With Tee Higgins (quad) out a third straight week and Charlie Jones (groin) missing a second consecutive contest, Burton was given a chance to play after he was a healthy scratch in Week 9 against the Raiders. The rookie wideout couldn't get much going, however, as he was able to reel in just one of the five passes thrown his way. Burton's lone reception was at least an impactful one, as his third-down, 11-yard catch with less than a minute remaining in the first half put the Bengals on Baltimore's three-yard line and was immediately followed by a Joe Burrow touchdown pass to Tanner Hudson. Still, Burton was mostly unimpressive in the defeat, and he could have a hard time getting on the field in Week 11 against the Chargers if Higgins is able to return to action.
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Bengals' Jermaine Burton: Returns to lineup Thursday
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Burton is active for Thursday night's game against the Ravens.
Burton was a healthy scratch for this past Sunday's win over the Raiders, but he'll reenter the lineup Thursday, providing another option behind fellow WRs Ja'Marr Chase and Andrei Iosivas, with Tee Higgins (quad) inactive. Given that Charlie Jones (groin) also is unavailable, Burton, who has recorded two catches (on five targets) for 88 yards in seven games to date, should have an opportunity to mix into the Bengals' Week 10 passing game in his return to action.
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Bengals' Jermaine Burton: Healthy inactive for Week 9
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Burton is a healthy inactive for Sunday's game against the Raiders.
Despite having quarterback Joe Burrow lobby for Burton earlier this week to get more playing time moving forward, the rookie wideout will end up on the inactive list in Week 9, even with two other receivers in Tee Higgins (quadricep) and Charlie Jones (groin) sitting out with injuries. With Burton out of the mix, the Bengals will have Andrei Iosivas, Trenton Irwin and Kendric Pryor as their available depth options behind No. 1 wideout Ja'Marr Chase.
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Bengals' Jermaine Burton: Could get more snaps soon
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Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow said Wednesday that Burton deserves more playing time, Ben Baby of ESPN.com reports.
Burton played a career-high 41 percent of snaps in Sunday's 37-17 loss to Philadelphia, catching one of three targets for 41 yards while running 16 routes (42 percent share). The bump in playing time came while Tee Higgins (quadricep) was out of action, however, rather than a case of Burton taking playing time away from No. 3 receiver Andrei Iosivas, who has been targeted on just 11.7 percent of his routes while producing 7.0 YPT and 0.79 yards per route. Iosivas has been one of the least productive regulars in the league at his position, perhaps opening the door for Burton -- a rookie third-round pick -- to take on a larger role in the second half of the season. It's unclear if Higgins will be back for Sunday's home game against the Raiders.
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Bengals' Jermaine Burton: One long catch
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Burton caught one pass for 41 yards in the Bengals' loss to the Eagles in Week 8. He played a season-high 24 snaps and had three total targets.
The 2024 third-round pick hasn't asked to do too much yet in the Bengals' offense, but with Tee Higgins (quad) out Sunday, Burton saw his role increase. No. 3 wideout Andrei Iosivas hasn't been getting open consistently, so it's possible that Burton could start to earn more playing time in the second half of the season.
Burton has made some highlight-reel plays in the preseason demonstrating his talent, but he has also at times displayed why he slipped in the draft, raising questions about his professionalism, Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic reports.
During the preseason, Burton was often on the field late in games, and not with the first two units. One report was an unverified remark by broadcaster Al Michaels of Burton sleeping through meetings, and quarterback Joe Burrow said that Burton needs to "stay in the playbook." Burton is clearly behind Andrei Iosivas right now for the No. 3 receiver role, and Trenton Irwin may also be ahead of the third-round rookie in the pecking order.
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Bengals' Jermaine Burton: Second TD in three preseason games
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Burton caught four of five targets for 56 yards and a touchdown in Thursday's 27-14 preseason loss to the Colts.
Burton failed to come down with a one-handed catch attempt down the sideline from Logan Woodside in the first quarter after his first catch went for no gain, but the rookie third-round draft pick racked up 35 yards in a three-play span in the third quarter before catching a 21-yard touchdown in the fourth to account for 56 of Woodside's 98 passing yards. Cincinnati didn't play its starters Thursday, so Burton's participation in the game is further evidence that he's behind Ja'Marr Chase (contract dispute), Tee Higgins and Andrei Iosivas on the wide receiver depth chart heading into the Sept. 8 regular-season opener against the Patriots. Burton scored two touchdowns in three preseason games, so it may be just a matter of time before he earns a larger role.
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Bengals' Jermaine Burton: Hauls in lone target
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Burton caught his lone target for a 19-yard gain in Saturday's 27-3 preseason loss to Chicago.
Burton started and got a lot of playing time early, while Ja'Marr Chase (contract), Tee Higgins, Andrei Iosivas and Trenton Irwin all were rested. Higgins, Iosivas and Irwin all worked ahead of Burton in the previous preseason game, but Burton came on strong in the second half to finish with a 3-82-1 receiving line on four targets in a loss to the Bucs. While he had a quieter game Saturday against Chicago and may enter Week 1 as a backup, Burton has at least done enough to remind the Bengals why they took him in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft. Starting the season lower on the depth chart doesn't mean he'll stay there all year.
Burton (ankle) is back at practice Sunday, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Burton hurt his ankle in practice Thursday and sat out Friday, but the injury appears to have been minor given his ability to get back on the field Sunday. The rookie third-round draft pick is battling for positioning on Cincinnati's wideout depth chart. Burton, Andrei Iosivas, Trenton Irwin and Charlie Jones are all candidates for the No. 3 receiver job for the 2024 campaign.
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Bengals' Jermaine Burton: Cincinnati snatches in third round
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The Bengals selected Burton in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft, 80th overall.
Burton (6-foot, 196 pounds) is a former blue-chip recruit who transferred from Georgia to Alabama, displaying standout talent at both schools but also picking up his share of critics along the way. He developed a reputation for dubious judgement on the field and in the locker room both, and not as many former coaches went to bat for him as they normally would with a player of his abilities. With that said, Burton's fit at the pro level doesn't require much speculation. If he has his head in the game he has the talent to emerge as at least an average starter at some point, and for the Bengals he should be an immediate boost to the deep passing game. With 4.45-second 40-yard dash and impressive hands/tracking ability, Burton could hurt defenses that leave him in single coverage against slower corners.
