The Bengals WR was surprisingly benched for Week 9 after skipping the team’s walkthrough on Saturday, according to the report

With Tee Higgins sidelined due to injury, the Cincinnati Bengals had hoped to give Jermaine Burton a larger role in Sunday’s game against the Las Vegas Raiders, but that won’t happen as the rookie receiver was surprisingly placed on the inactive list Game.

According to NFL.com, the Bengals apparently decided to cut Burton at the last second because he didn’t show up for the team’s walk-through practice on Saturday.

Burton’s no-show at practice is bizarre because his teammates had been cheering him on all week. Ahead of this week’s game, Ja’Marr Chase said Burton could be a “game-changer.”

“If he knows what he’s doing 100%, with confidence and other ways, he’ll change the game even more,” Chase said of Burton on Mike Petraglia on Thursday.

Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow added that he believes Burton could eventually become a “really good player” for the Bengals.

“He will take the next step with his knowledge of the game plan, his knowledge of the defense, his knowledge of the offense and the minute details of every route,” Burrow said of Cincy Jungle. “I think Jermaine will be a really good player.”

The 2024 third-round pick only has two receptions this season, but both were big balls, one going for 41 yards and the other for 47 yards. With Higgins (quad) unable to play in Week 9, Burton had a good chance to carve out a role on offense, but that won’t happen now.

It’s not clear why Burton didn’t show up for the walkthrough, but earlier this week Burton sounded somewhat disappointed with the coaching staff for not putting him back on the field.

“I can’t get into the game,” Burton said Thursday, via the Cincinnati Enquirer. “Personally, I feel like it could have been me [making] plays.”

According to The Athletic, the Bengals are expected to address Burton’s late scratch after Sunday’s game against the Raiders, which began at 1 p.m. ET on Fox.