The Cincinnati Bengals have waived troubled wide receiver Jermaine Burton just one day after suspending him for the team’s loss to the Buffalo Bills.
Burton, a 2024 third-round pick who entered the league with a lot of promise and baggage, never found his footing in Cincinnati.
After missing Sunday’s game for non-injury reasons and receiving a suspension that cost him nearly $60,000 in salary, head coach Zac Taylor announced Monday that the team was cutting ties, saying he hoped “a change of scenery” might help the 24-year-old reset his career.
Here’s every Jermaine Burton highlight from his time in Cincinnati: pic.twitter.com/2DR3YE4hfB
— Drew Garrison (@DrewGarrison) December 8, 2025
A Troubled Tenure Ends in Cincinnati
Burton’s time with the Bengals was marked by inconsistency, absences, and repeated off-field concerns. He played in 14 games as a rookie but didn’t appear in a single contest this season, missing time due to team discipline, illness, and a late-November ankle issue.
His stint also included troubling allegations, including domestic incidents from late 2024 and an earlier confrontation caught on camera during his Alabama days, which raised questions about his long-term reliability.
Despite support from teammates and the front office, Burton struggled to maintain trust within the organization.
Zac’s reaction to drafting Jermaine Burton lmfao pic.twitter.com/ml5v0rS7ji
— logan ⛵️ (@logan21__) December 8, 2025
What’s Next for Burton and the Bengals?
Burton will now go through waivers, giving other teams the chance to take a flyer on a physically gifted but volatile player. If unclaimed, he becomes a free agent.
Meanwhile, the Bengals, now 4-9 and fading from playoff contention, move forward with a different roster picture as they attempt to salvage the final stretch of their season.
Photo Credit: Cara Owsley/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
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