Cincinnati Bengals rookie Jermaine Burton has been one of the team’s most-hyped players this summer.
But the proverbial wheels sort of came off in the preseason opener — and the second preseason game wasn’t much better.
In his pro debut, Burton couldn’t get on the field until very late in the game. He put on a show once there, but it was pretty telling that he was so far down the depth chart.
And on Saturday in Chicago, he wasn’t heavily involved despite most of the team’s starters sitting out.
The lone exception? He served as a returner on special teams.
Coaches will say the expected stuff about Burton suddenly returning kicks for the first time in his life. Think, Chris Evans is out for the season, Charlie Jones is on the way back from an injury, etc.
And Burton will say the right stuff too, as noted in this video from Fox 19’s Joe Danneman:
Two minutes with #Bengals rookie wide receiver Jermaine Burton.
"It's a process. I've just got to keep going. I've still got to reach my goal of being the best player I can be."
* Of note, he says he has never returned a kick in a game in his life until today. pic.twitter.com/hvkmHL4Sn7
— Joe Danneman (@FOX19Joe) August 18, 2024
Before the second preseason game, The Athletic’s Paul Dehner Jr. hit on this point nicely about Burton apparently needing to earn his way up the depth chart for one reason or another.
“This is a massive red flag,” Dehner said. “The fact he only had five snaps…whether he made plays or not, we knew he could make plays like that…the issue with Burton was not what he’s going to look like when you’re throwing the ball up to him…The problem is developing enough trust to be out there with Joe Burrow early in the game. Amarius Mims did…Here’s Burrow afterwards talking about he’s got to get in his playbook.”
Latest Who Dey Light w/@markchalifoux:
🔄 Potential #Bengals cutdown trades
😡 Fans going to the dark place after a bad practice
👇 The role of Jermaine Burton and a take I'm forming
YT: https://t.co/jrcxQjW4Ta pic.twitter.com/BQ8zgjD8GP
— Paul Dehner Jr. (@pauldehnerjr) August 16, 2024
Burton does appear to be climbing the depth chart. But at this point, it seems clear that fans hopeful he can break into the big three or four rotation at wideout in the base offense might have to fall back. Barring something stunning over the next week or so, that role will likely go to more experienced guys in the system such as Andrei Iosvias and Trenton Irwin, if not Jones.
While humbling, Burton’s attacking everything the Bengals throw at him, at least. And as he and fans know, that 2025 outlook and beyond might not include Tee Higgins, so proving himself now could produce major rewards a year from now.
