Second-year wide receiver Jermaine Burton is out of the Week 14 matchup between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Buffalo Bills. The Bengals have notably made the call to suspend the wideout, marking the third time this season he won’t be available. But this time, it carries a big price tag.

The Bengals announced the suspension on Sunday, listing Burton as inactive with no travel to Buffalo. While the team hasn’t clarified the reason for this suspension, sources suggest it was “conduct detrimental” to Burton. This suspension will also set him back a total of $59,320.88.

Burton hasn’t played a single game all season. For a 2024 third-round pick who’s caught just four passes for 107 yards in his entire NFL career, this latest misstep feels like a roadblock.

Burton’s rookie season last year was supposed to be a fresh start after red flags followed him from Alabama. He was notably caught on camera hitting a Tennessee fan during a field-storming incident. The Bengals drafted him, betting on his talent to outweigh the baggage.

Instead, Burton fell down the depth chart during training camp for not mastering the playbook. Franchise quarterback Joe Burrow had publicly urged him to “stay in the playbook” after a preseason game, a rare public nudge that signaled trouble brewing.

By Week 9 of his rookie year, Burton was taken out of the lineup against the Las Vegas Raiders after missing a Saturday walkthrough. Head coach Zac Taylor, at one time, had cryptically explained Burton needed to “handle business the right way.” Even Burrow had spoken up, trying to make Burton understand the seriousness of Pro Football. 

“It’s not college,” Burrow had said at the time in a post-game presser. “You’re here early, late a couple days… it’s an adjustment period when you get in the league.”

But the locker room issues have continued alongside off-field drama surrounding Burton. But now, it feels like the Bengals’ patience has worn thin.

Are the Bengals moving on from Jermaine Burton?

Back in November last season, Jermaine Burton had attempted to rebuild the team’s trust in him. He credited the locker room for helping him grow, and also projected a growth mentality.

“Things are going to happen, you’ll mess up, and everybody makes mistakes,” Burton had said in an interview. “As long as you can get up the next day and still put your best foot forward then I don’t think it really matters, I think you’ll be in a good spot.”

But those words haven’t been translated into action. Burton was notably late for practice ahead of the Bengals’ Week 4 this season. Multiple reports suggest teammates have lost trust in Burton completely, frustrated by what they perceive as a lack of professionalism and commitment. The Athletic’s Paul Dehner Jr. painted a grim picture of the Bengals’ locker room recently.

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“Many of the same problems from last year have persisted off the field,” Dehner said. “There is little to no trust in him among the staff.”

For a team chasing playoff contention, Jermaine Burton has become a distraction the Bengals can’t afford. His suspension from Week 14 takes a chunk out of his net worth, and it may also end up costing his future in Cincinnati if the issues persist. The next chapter in Burton’s unraveling NFL story is something we’ll have to wait and find out.