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By Rowan Fisher-Shotton
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The Cincinnati Bengals announced Monday that they have waived wide receiver Jermaine Burton, a 2024 third-round pick who was suspended by the franchise one day earlier and did not travel with the team for its Week 14 game against the Buffalo Bills.
The suspension was described as a one-game discipline for non-injury reasons, costing Burton a forfeited game check.
To make matters worse, the Bengals lost the game, with Buffalo rallying from a 28-18 fourth-quarter deficit to beat Cincinnati 39-34 in snowy Orchard Park.
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Bills QB Josh Allen threw for three TDs and ran for another, while Christian Benford returned a Joe Burrow interception 63 yards for the go-ahead score.
Burrow finished with 284 yards, four TDs, and two interceptions, but Cincinnati’s playoff hopes took another hit with the loss.
The team has not yet released additional comments about the nature of the conduct that prompted Burton's discipline.
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Burton arrived in the NFL after productive stints at Georgia and Alabama.
He produced 901 receiving yards and seven TDs on 53 receptions over his first two years with the Bulldogs, and totaled 79 catches for 1,475 yards and 15 TDs across his final two seasons with the Tide.
Burton’s breakout year came in 2023, when he totaled 798 yards and eight touchdowns on just 39 receptions (20.5 yards per catch), showcasing the speed, contested‑catch skills, and downfield explosiveness that elevated him into the 2024 NFL Draft’s top WR prospects.
Cincinnati selected Burton in Round 3 (No. 80 overall) in 2024, and he appeared in 14 games as a rookie, finishing with just four catches for 107 yards.
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Burton is now on waivers, meaning any team can claim him within the waiver window and inherit his contract; if unclaimed, he becomes a free agent and can sign with any team (including a practice squad, subject to eligibility).
For Cincinnati, the move removes a low-usage but high-upside player who also brought off-field risk into the room.
The Bengals (4-9, third in the AFC North) face a short window to reset around receivers Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins as they try to salvage the season.
Their next game is Week 15 at home vs. the Baltimore Ravens, a game in which the Ravens are listed as 1.5-point favorites.
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