- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 1,169,346
- Reaction score
- 59
Every professional football player has a "Welcome to the NFL" moment. For Washington Commanders wide receiver Treylon Burks, it happened before most players. On draft night in 2022, the Titans traded star wide receiver A.J. Brown to the Philadelphia Eagles for the 18th overall pick and a third-round selection. Tennessee, at least in its mind, immediately used that first-round pick to take Brown's replacement: Burks.
It was big shoes to fill for the rookie, something he shouldn't have been expected to do. Brown was one of the best receivers in the NFL and one of the best players in Tennessee's franchise history. Burks was expected, as a rookie, to step in and immediately replace his production.
While Brown flourished, helping lead the Eagles to two Super Bowl appearances and one championship, Burks spent most of his time sidelined.
The 26-year-old suffered a turf toe injury early in his rookie season, forcing him to miss six games. In 2023, Burks caught a deep pass in a training camp practice and landed awkwardly on his knee. He'd miss some time with an LCL spring. In 2024, Burks tore his ACL in Week 7, forcing him to miss the remainder of the season. In training camp last summer, as Burks had recovered from his knee injury, he suffered a fractured collarbone after making a diving catch.
Tennessee placed Burks on waivers in October, and one week later, the Commanders signed him to their practice squad, with the intention of quickly promoting him to the 53-man roster. In his second game with Washington, Burks suffered a broken finger, but would miss only one week of action.
Burks appeared in eight games for the Commanders, catching 10 passes for 130 yards and a touchdown. His touchdown catch on Sunday Night Football against the Denver Broncos was arguably the NFL Catch of the Year in 2025. Burks re-signed with Washington last month.
Turron Davenport, who has covered the Titans for years at ESPN, offered some insight into Burks' tough-luck career.
"He got put into a bad situation," Davenport told JP Finlay at the NFL's annual league meetings. "Like anytime you are the guy who has to quote-unquote 'take the place' of one of the best players in franchise history, you look at the Titans receiver history, I'm not talking about the Houston Oilers, the Titans. Derrick Mason, A.J. Brown. Those are the ones. You could throw in Drew Bennett, Nate Washington, but I think, when you look at him being put into that situation, replacing A.J. Brown, that's just too much. It's a lot to be put on him, and then on top of that, the injuries. It's frustrating because I saw him have two injuries, long-term injuries, when he made a tremendous play."
Washington has praised Burks since his arrival in October. General manager Adam Peters and head coach Dan Quinn have repeatedly praised his work ethic and desire to improve. The Commanders need receivers, and Burks is finally free of pressure. The 6-foot-2, 225-pound Burks has a unique skillset. He's big and strong, and excellent after the catch.
There's an absolute need for other receivers to step up opposite Terry McLaurin, and Burks can be a solid contributor if he finally gets some good injury luck.
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Washington Commanders: Treylon Burks' second chance
Continue reading...
It was big shoes to fill for the rookie, something he shouldn't have been expected to do. Brown was one of the best receivers in the NFL and one of the best players in Tennessee's franchise history. Burks was expected, as a rookie, to step in and immediately replace his production.
While Brown flourished, helping lead the Eagles to two Super Bowl appearances and one championship, Burks spent most of his time sidelined.
The 26-year-old suffered a turf toe injury early in his rookie season, forcing him to miss six games. In 2023, Burks caught a deep pass in a training camp practice and landed awkwardly on his knee. He'd miss some time with an LCL spring. In 2024, Burks tore his ACL in Week 7, forcing him to miss the remainder of the season. In training camp last summer, as Burks had recovered from his knee injury, he suffered a fractured collarbone after making a diving catch.
Tennessee placed Burks on waivers in October, and one week later, the Commanders signed him to their practice squad, with the intention of quickly promoting him to the 53-man roster. In his second game with Washington, Burks suffered a broken finger, but would miss only one week of action.
Burks appeared in eight games for the Commanders, catching 10 passes for 130 yards and a touchdown. His touchdown catch on Sunday Night Football against the Denver Broncos was arguably the NFL Catch of the Year in 2025. Burks re-signed with Washington last month.
Turron Davenport, who has covered the Titans for years at ESPN, offered some insight into Burks' tough-luck career.
"He got put into a bad situation," Davenport told JP Finlay at the NFL's annual league meetings. "Like anytime you are the guy who has to quote-unquote 'take the place' of one of the best players in franchise history, you look at the Titans receiver history, I'm not talking about the Houston Oilers, the Titans. Derrick Mason, A.J. Brown. Those are the ones. You could throw in Drew Bennett, Nate Washington, but I think, when you look at him being put into that situation, replacing A.J. Brown, that's just too much. It's a lot to be put on him, and then on top of that, the injuries. It's frustrating because I saw him have two injuries, long-term injuries, when he made a tremendous play."
Washington has praised Burks since his arrival in October. General manager Adam Peters and head coach Dan Quinn have repeatedly praised his work ethic and desire to improve. The Commanders need receivers, and Burks is finally free of pressure. The 6-foot-2, 225-pound Burks has a unique skillset. He's big and strong, and excellent after the catch.
There's an absolute need for other receivers to step up opposite Terry McLaurin, and Burks can be a solid contributor if he finally gets some good injury luck.
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Washington Commanders: Treylon Burks' second chance
Continue reading...
