Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase hit the proverbial nail on the head late this week about rookie Jermaine Burton.
Effectively, Chase said now is a great time for Burton to hit the field — and added that the rookie is finally slotting into a proper role within the offense.
“I feel like Jermaine has made a big, tremendous jump…Just knowing his play, knowing where he needs to be, knowing what he’s used for…just really playbook-wise,” Chase said during an interview with WLWT’s Olivia Ray. “And, you know, finally, getting able to get a chance, you know, I’m saying there’s no bigger, no bigger chance than right now.”
Burton, after dropping in the draft, had some very strange usage in the preseason, initially running with the fourth-team wideouts and then returning kicks on special teams for the first time in his life.
Then, a report broke that said Burton might face a redshirt season after struggles that meshed with some of the red flags that caused him to drop on draft day.
But the conversation has been much more positive around Burton since training camp ended. Just in time, too, as Tee Higgins is about to miss his second straight game with a new hamstring injury and Joe Burrow’s offense looked downright awful in that Week 1 upset at the hands of the New England Patriots.
Based on what Burton has shown on the field, there’s zero doubt he could make plays opposite Ja’Marr Chase and get the separation needed to let the offense run smoothly.
Perhaps that’s something we see the team do in Kansas City, given the circumstances.
