Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Jermaine Burton has been one of the hottest points of speculation around the team going into the Week 2 encounter with the Kansas City Chiefs.
Those Bengals could definitely use some help around Joe Burrow after the offensive struggles in the opener, and Burton would appear to have what it takes.
This week, Bengals head coach Zac Taylor threw out some major coachspeak while talking about the subject.
“I think Jermaine has made progress and done things he needs to do to continue to grow, like any rookie,” Taylor said. “It’s not easy to walk in here and immediately be able to play to your full potential. And so I think he’s going through a process just like all of our other rookies we’ve drafted have gone through.”
It sounded a little more positive on Burton than in the past, but who knows?
Burton reportedly had some summer red flags that came up, which would explain his running with the fourth string or worse to start the preseason and serving as a returner on special teams.
But one thing onlookers can’t deny is his stunning playmaking ability. And given that one expert has called Taylor’s scheme a failure without two elite outside receivers, it’s a pretty big deal that Tee Higgins will miss the game against the Chiefs with his latest hamstring injury.
Whether Burton has done enough to actually see the field, given the dramatic circumstances, remains to be seen.
