Bengals WR Jermaine Burton Misses Practice Due to Injury, Issues Statement

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Jermaine Burton missed a recent practice due to an undisclosed injury, which he confirmed in a public statement to dispel rumors questioning his commitment and character. Burton emphasized that his absence was solely injury-related, countering speculation fueled by his prior rookie season issues including tardiness and missed practices. Despite a challenging rookie year marked by off-field issues and limited production, Burton has shown improvement during the offseason and preseason, aiming to secure a more consistent role with the Bengals, especially on special teams. Bengals coach Zac Taylor described Burton's injury as minor, and offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher highlighted Burton's strong ball skills and potential if he can achieve greater consistency. The team is monitoring Burton's status day-to-day as he continues to recover, with the hope that he can contribute in the remaining preseason games and the regular season. Burton's development is seen as important for Cincinnati as they rely on their receiving corps led by Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, despite concerns about the team's offensive and defensive line depth.