Zac Taylor’s Bold Move: Rookie WR Jermaine Burton Left Behind Ahead of Crucial Pittsburgh Showdown

The Cincinnati Bengals have declared that rookie wideout Jermaine Burton will not accompany the team due to a choice made by head coach Zac Taylor.

Burton, a third-round draft choice by Cincinnati, continues to have a problematic inaugural year in the NFL. When the Bengals selected Burton in April, they were cognizant and needed to address concerns about the warning signs linked to his pre-draft profile.

Taylor expressed his faith in the Bengals’ environment and believed that Burton could succeed in a wide receiver group alongside Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. However, this does not appear to be the reality, as this isn’t the first incident the team has encountered with Burton.

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On Nov. 3, the team made a surprising decision to keep Burton inactive when the Bengals faced the Raiders because the rookie did not “manage his responsibilities” throughout the week, according to Taylor. Burton’s struggles have persisted during the season, and unless the team makes the playoffs, his first professional year will conclude with him at home while his teammates compete in a crucial game against a divisional rival.

Throughout this season, Burton has recorded four receptions for 107 yards. Besides the lack of output stemming from his inability to gain the trust of his coaching staff and fellow players, his failure to demonstrate to the franchise that selected him that he can perform as a professional at the pinnacle level is what renders the selection of Burton a letdown up until this stage.

It remains uncertain what the future holds for Burton in Cincinnati after this season. Furthermore, having such ambiguity surrounding a player chosen on Day 2 is, to put it mildly, troubling for the Bengals.