Treylon Burks, once a highly touted first-round draft pick, is getting another shot in the NFL, but not in the way he envisioned. Can he resurrect his career after a rocky start? According to a report by NFL Media's Ian Rapoport, the free agent wide receiver has agreed to terms to join the Washington Commanders' practice squad. This news comes as the Commanders are facing a serious shortage at the receiver position. What does this mean for Burks, and more importantly, for the Commanders' struggling offense?
Rapoport suggests that Burks might not be a practice squad player for long. The Commanders are in dire need of healthy bodies at wide receiver, and an elevation to the active roster could happen quickly. Their star receiver, Terry McLaurin, is currently battling a quadriceps injury, and Deebo Samuel is dealing with a heel issue. To make matters worse, Noah Brown is already on injured reserve with a groin injury. This confluence of injuries has left the Commanders scrambling for solutions, making Burks' arrival a potentially crucial one. He could be thrust into a significant role sooner rather than later.
Burks recently became a free agent after being waived from injured reserve by the Tennessee Titans last week. Before agreeing to terms with Washington, he also worked out for the Denver Broncos on Tuesday, indicating that multiple teams saw potential in the young receiver despite his injury history. He's now been cleared for all football activities after recovering from a fractured collarbone sustained during training camp, removing a major obstacle to his return.
But here's where it gets controversial... Burks was drafted by the Titans with the 18th overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. The Titans acquired that pick in a trade that sent star wide receiver A.J. Brown to the Philadelphia Eagles. The decision to trade away a proven commodity like Brown rather than offering him a long-term contract is widely considered a mistake by many football analysts and Titans fans. The hope was that Burks could fill the void left by Brown, but unfortunately, he has struggled to stay healthy and produce consistently.
During his two seasons with the Titans, Burks was limited to just 22 games. He also suffered a torn ACL in the fifth game of the 2024 season, further derailing his progress. In those 22 games, he recorded 53 receptions for 699 yards and a single touchdown – numbers far below the expectations for a first-round pick. And this is the part most people miss: the pressure of replacing a player as impactful as A.J. Brown likely added to the challenges Burks faced in Tennessee.
Now, with a fresh start in Washington, Burks has an opportunity to prove his doubters wrong and finally realize his potential. Will he be able to seize this opportunity and become a valuable contributor for the Commanders? Or will his injury history and past struggles continue to haunt him? Does the Commanders' desperate situation represent a perfect opportunity for Burks, or is it simply too much pressure for him to handle? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
