Bengals Announce Suspension of Wide Receiver on Sunday

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Ayomide Adeduyite | Last updated Dec 7, 2025 11:37 AM ET

The Cincinnati Bengals enter Week 14 at 4-8 and facing a critical road matchup against the Buffalo Bills. Cincinnati is coming off a solid offensive outing in its 32-14 win over the Baltimore Ravens, a game in which Joe Burrow threw for 261 yards and two touchdowns.

Wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase (110 receiving yards and seven receptions) also produced a strong showing, while teammate Tee Higgins was sidelined due to a concussion. Higgins returned to practice this week, cleared the league’s concussion protocol and is expected to be available on Sunday as the Bengals continue to fight for relevance in the AFC playoff race.

Higgins’ return comes at a time when the Bengals need stability at wide receiver, but the group took another hit before kickoff.

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) and wide receiver Tee Higgins (5).Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images

On Sunday morning, Cincinnati announced that wideout Jermaine Burton has been suspended for the game against Buffalo. Burton did not travel with the team and will be inactive. The suspension reportedly stems from a team-discipline matter, adding to what has already been a difficult season for the second-year receiver.

Burton, a 2024 third-round pick, last played last season, recording four receptions for 107 yards in 14 games. Despite hopes that he could emerge as a depth contributor behind Chase and Higgins, his limited snaps and now his suspension have stalled any momentum he had built.

Bengals suspended WR Jermaine Burton for today’s game vs. the Bills.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 7, 2025

Cincinnati enters the game needing a win to keep its postseason hopes alive. A loss would push them further out of the AFC North chase with only a few weeks remaining because the division leaders, the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers, play each other on Sunday. The offense will again rest on Burrow’s ability to distribute the ball efficiently as the Bengals attempt to manage injuries and depth concerns across the roster.

Sunday’s game between the Bengals and Bills kicks off at 1 p.m. ET on Fox.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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