Titans HC Brian Callahan: WR Treylon Burks ‘going to have to contribute’ on special teams
When first-year Tennessee Titans head coach Brian Callahan said earlier this offseason that Treylon Burks was going to “play everything,” he wasn’t kidding.
Burks, a wide receiver taken 18th overall in the 2022 NFL Draft by the Titans, will be expected to contribute on special teams, Callahan said Tuesday, underscoring that the former first-rounder is likely to be fighting for a roster spot and will need to contribute any way he can.
“He’s going to have to contribute,” Callahan said Tuesday after Burks got reps as a gunner. “You know you only get so many hats on game day, and if he’s one of those guys on game day, we’re going to have to find a place for him. Guys like him should be great special teams players on top of it, just because of his size and speed. And so the gunner thing is something I think he’s very capable of doing, there might be some more roles for him in the other phases, as well.”
Burks was drafted with the pick acquired by the Titans when they sent A.J. Brown to the Philadelphia Eagles. As Brown has soared in Philly, Burks has sputtered through a pair of seasons marked by injuries and lack of production.
The 24-year-old is entering his third season, but the writing is in bold on the wall with the Titans having signed Calvin Ridley and Tyler Boyd this offseason to add to a WR corps already led by DeAndre Hopkins a year ago. Burks finished seventh on the team in 2023 with just 16 receptions.
Thus, if Burks is going to be active on game days — or make the roster this summer — he’s going to have to find ways beyond just being a No. 4 wide receiver with name value.
