Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Jermaine Burton was one of the hottest speculations surrounding the team ahead of their Week 2 matchup with the Kansas City Chiefs.

The Bengals could definitely use some reinforcement around Joe Burrow after the offensive struggles in the opening game, and Burton seems to have what it takes.

This week, Bengals head coach Zac Taylor used a lot of coach-speak when discussing this topic.

“I think Jermaine has progressed and done things that he needs to do to continue to grow, like any freshman,” Taylor said. “It’s not easy to come in here and be able to reach your full potential right away. And so I think he’s going through a process that all the other freshmen we’ve drafted have gone through.”

It sounded a little more positive towards Burton than in the past, but who knows?

Burton reportedly showed some red flags over the summer, which explains why he started the preseason on the fourth-or-worst team and served as a returner on special teams.

But one thing viewers can’t deny is his stunning playmaking skills. And with one expert calling Taylor’s strategy without two top-notch outside receivers a failure, it’s a pretty big deal that Tee Higgins will miss the game against the Chiefs due to his recent hamstring injury.

It remains to be seen whether Burton has done enough to even get on the field given the dramatic circumstances.