Who Is Jermaine Burton?
Jermaine Burton is an American football wide receiver who played college football at Georgia and Alabama before being selected by the Cincinnati Bengals in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft.[1][2] Drafted 80th overall, he was projected as a vertical threat who could stretch defenses and complement star receivers Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins in the Bengals’ passing game.[1][2]
Despite his pedigree and athletic upside, Burton’s rookie season in Cincinnati yielded only four receptions for 107 yards across 14 games, with limited playing time and just one start.[1][2] Entering his second year, he aimed to rebound from what he publicly described as a disappointing debut season, but his role instead diminished further as he remained inactive on game days.[1][2]
Bengals Suspension and Release
The turning point came when the Bengals ruled Burton out for their Week 14 game against the Buffalo Bills for non-injury reasons and then announced a formal suspension roughly 90 minutes before kickoff.[3][4] He did not travel with the team to Buffalo, and the suspension cost him a game check of approximately $59,320, signaling the seriousness of the internal issue.[3][4]
Within about a day of that suspension, Cincinnati moved to waive Burton, ending his two-year stint with the franchise.[1][2] Head coach Zac Taylor confirmed the decision and indicated that, although the organization wished Burton the best, the team was ready to move forward after repeated frustrations with his availability and consistency.[1] The release came after he had not appeared in any regular-season games during his second year, despite being healthy for much of the season.[1][4]
Discipline Concerns and What Comes Next
Burton’s departure from Cincinnati is tied not only to on-field underperformance but also to a pattern of discipline and reliability concerns dating back to his rookie year and even his college career.[1][2] He was previously benched for a midseason game after missing practice and did not travel with the team for the 2024 season finale against the Pittsburgh Steelers due to a coach’s decision.[2][4] Off the field, he has faced allegations of misconduct, including an accusation of assault earlier in 2025 and a widely discussed incident at Alabama involving a Tennessee fan, though not all of these incidents led to formal charges or league discipline.[2]
Former Alabama coach Nick Saban once praised Burton’s competitive traits but stressed that he needed greater “emotional maturity” and consistency in doing the right things on and off the field.[2] Those comments have taken on new relevance as Burton now heads to waivers, where other NFL teams must weigh his talent as a downfield playmaker against the history of reliability and discipline concerns.[1][2] For the Bengals, the move underscores a commitment to accountability in the locker room, while for Burton, it marks a critical crossroads where his future in the league will depend on demonstrating growth, professionalism, and the ability to stay on the field and out of trouble.