While at the Reese’s Senior Bowl in Mobile, Duke Tobin, the Cincinnati Bengals’ director of player personnel, said wide receiver Jermaine Burton had “done nothing” as a rookie to deserve a roster spot with the NFL team.

While at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, Tobin was asked again about Burton.

“I’ve said what I’ve had to say on that one,” Tobin said. “I can’t want it more for him than he wants it for himself, and he’s going to have to demonstrate that.

“He’s an immensely talented guy. We’re not giving up on him, but he’s going to have to start showing it now and he’s going to have to take the next step in his career. I’m hopeful. I like Jermaine. I don’t dislike Jermaine; I like Jermaine. And he can add a lot to us.”

Burton joined the Bengals as a third-round selection in the 2024 NFL Draft after he had 79 receptions for 1,475 yards and 15 touchdowns in two seasons at Alabama.

As an NFL rookie, Burton had four receptions for 107 yards and returned 13 kickoffs for a 29.1-yard average. He was on the field for 131 offensive snaps and 37 special-teams plays.

Burton seemed to miss his opportunity to make a bigger contribution for the Bengals at the midpoint of the season. Burton had two career receptions that had gained 47 and 41 yards and was coming off a career-high 24 offensive snaps when Cincinnati prepped him for a bigger role with wide receiver Tee Higgins sidelined for a Nov. 3 game against the Las Vegas Raiders.

Instead, Burton was designated as a game-day inactive after Bengals coach Zac Taylor said Burton had been “a big part of the plan.” Taylor said Burton had been benched because “we just got to handle all of our business the right way.”

With Higgins still out, Burton came back the next week to make his only start and play a career-high 39 snaps in a 35-34 loss to the Baltimore Ravens. He had an 11-yard reception against Baltimore, then had an 8-yard reception and 18 offensive snaps in a 34-27 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers in the next game.

But in Cincinnati’s remaining six games, Burton played 25 snaps and had no receptions.

The Bengals left Burton home as the team traveled to Pittsburgh for its season finale. It was later reported that in the week before the game a 19-year-old woman who had been dating Burton called 911 to report the wide receiver had chased her into her apartment, broken her phone, choked and hit her. The woman also told police Burton had put a knife to his neck and threatened suicide. No charges were filed.

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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X at @AMarkG1.