Adam Peters opted to stand pat at the 2025 trade deadline. Rumors were swirling that the Washington Commanders might sell assets to secure a more sustainable future. Still, either no offers worth considering arrived, or the team is not ready to give up on the campaign just yet.
That was a hot topic of debate among the fan base. However, the Commanders quietly made one move that could have long-term benefits.
It was another torrid evening on the injury front for Washington against the Seattle Seahawks. Standout quarterback Jayden Daniels suffered a dislocated elbow. Veteran cornerback Marshon Lattimore sustained a torn ACL. If that wasn't bad enough, the Commanders also lost breakout wide receiver/kick returner Luke McCaffrey to a broken collarbone on the game's opening kickoff.
Commanders could give Treylon Burks an extended audition to secure his long-term future
Peters, not for the first time this season, had to think on his feet. Lattimore and McCaffrey both went to injured reserve. The Commanders used this unfortunate incident to sign Treylon Burks from the practice squad to the active roster.
Burks got his first taste of action in Washington last time out. The coaching staff must have been suitably impressed. With second-team All-Pro Terry McLaurin and Noah Brown also on the shelf, this could be a prolonged audition for the 2022 first-round pick to see if he can carve out a future for himself in Washington.
Nobody has ever doubted Burks' athletic attributes. He's got the size, speed, and explosiveness to be a difference-maker. Going to the Tennessee Titans with so much pressure on his shoulders was a bad fit, and the injuries haven't helped. Although the wideout doesn't have the benefit of Daniels under center, he must seize this opportunity to shine.
The Commanders' receiver room now consists of Burks, Deebo Samuel Sr., Chris Moore, and rookie fourth-rounder Jaylin Lane. McLaurin is expected to be out until after the bye week, and who knows when (or if) we'll see Brown again. Offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury needs to make the best out of a bad situation, and getting a legitimate assessment of the Arkansas product would be a good place to start.
This is a lost season for the Commanders. They have too many stars out, and their playoff hopes have all but evaporated. It's time to start planning for the future. That means diminishing the influence of aging veterans and increasing the responsibilities of younger hopefuls with more upside.
Burks fits into this category. Whether he can capitalize in the coming weeks before his fate is determined remains to be seen.