Jermaine Burton is still out of favor despite a strong preseason

If you were to limit yourself strictly to watching highlight videos and game reports, you might think that the Cincinnati Bengals got a real bargain with wide receiver Jermaine Burton.

Burton had eight catches for 157 yards and two touchdowns on 10 attempts for the Bengals in the preseason, proving that the talent he showed with the Georgia Bulldogs and Alabama Crimson Tide translates to the NFL. But that was never a problem for Burton.

And what was a problem at the NFL level can cost him valuable NFL snaps. After all, there’s a reason most of Burton’s snaps have come in the fourth quarter of preseason games rather than the first half.

Burton’s work ethic, off-the-field habits and overall professionalism in the NFL have been questioned. This was the case early in his tenure with the Bengals, and because of this, the team may not even line up the talented rookie on Sundays.

Paul Dehner, the Athletic’s sportswriter for the Bengals, sheds some light on what happened between the team and Burton. And it’s not a glowing criticism of the talented receiver, who also struggled with problems off the field in college:

“The scouting report proved to be true. Cincinnati did indeed have trouble getting Burton on board quickly and getting him to the professional level. Al Michaels made a comment on a preseason broadcast that Burton was sleeping through meetings, and while that specific accusation was not confirmed, it is consistent with the mood inside the building about his early approach: He was nowhere near where he should be as a professional.”

– Paul Dehner about Jermaine Burton

That’s different than a 20-year-old entering the NFL and still having to grow up a bit. Burton was part of two of the best college programs in the country under Kirby Smart and Nick Saban. The wide receiver is also already 23 years old. He has been given the opportunity to compete on the biggest stage, but at some point the question has to be asked:

Will he?

Dehner even went a step further and talked about Burton and his potential impact on Sundays, as he hasn’t been able to make an impact for the Bengals so far. Dehner spoke in the harshest terms about the rookie receiver, adding:

The Bengals won’t put him on the field – or even let him play on game day – until they’re confident he’s prepared in meetings, in the right spots and has the quarterback’s trust.

– Paul Dehner about Jermaine Burton

It sounds like Burton has a short leash. Third-round picks bring in very little guaranteed money. They could give him time this season and the offseason to catch up, but if Burton doesn’t turn pro in Cincinnati, it wouldn’t be a surprise if the team drops him next summer.

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