Titans expect Burks to ‘carve out a role’ in 2024

Last updated: 2024/05/10 at 12:14 PM

BigP Published May 10, 2024

Turron Davenport, ESPNMay 9, 2024, 03:35 PM ET
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NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Titans wide receiver Treylon Burks is entering a pivotal year after injuries and inconsistencies derailed his first two seasons.

Burks has a clean slate with the new coaching staff, led by Brian Callahan. So far, Burks has gotten off to a good start.

“The work that he’s put in has been really impressive,” Callahan said Thursday. “I’m excited about what he can bring for us.”

Callahan pointed to the feedback the staff got from Burks’ GPS tracker during practice, citing that he covered 3,591 yards of ground during practice Tuesday and his hitting a team-best top speed of 22.6 miles per hour as examples of his “super impressive” performance. He rewarded Burks by calling on him to break the team down after practice recently.

The onus is on Burks to build upon his good start with the new staff and carry it over to the season. The Titans signed free agent wide receiver Calvin Ridley to a four-year, $92 million contract and recently agreed to terms with free agent receiver Tyler Boyd.

Adding Boyd could potentially push Burks down to the fourth receiver on the depth chart. Burks has caught only 49 passes for 665 yards and one touchdown in 22 games over his career. Boyd gained 667 yards on 67 receptions and scored two touchdowns in 17 games last season.

The ninth-year receiver spent the past five seasons with Callahan as his offensive coordinator with the Cincinnati Bengals. Having played primarily as a slot receiver, Boyd fills Callahan’s stated desire last month for someone to step up as the dedicated slot receiver for the Titans. But Callahan said Burks will still get an opportunity to make an impact.

“We’ve told him that from the beginning he’s going to play inside, he’s going to play outside,” Callahan said. “He’s going to carve out a role for himself.”

Burks’ performance at Arkansas led him to being the No. 18 pick by the Titans in the 2022 draft. New Titans receivers coach Tyke Tolbert wants Burks to resurrect the dominant player he was in college.

“You’re the same guy who I saw kill Alabama DBs, kill LSU DBs,” Tolbert said. “In the NFL, guess who you’re playing against? You gotta continue to be you and control what you can control.”