The Washington Commanders' injury list keeps growing, and a week after Terry McLaurin came down with a hamstring issue, Stefon Diggs has too.
That means opportunity has come knocking for the team's younger wideouts, including one who must step up.
Treylon Burks has been off to a solid start in 2026. He's already secured two touchdown receptions, including a 47-yarder against the Indianapolis Colts in London. But those are two of his only three catches of the year, something that will need to change if he's forced into a bigger role.
Commanders' receiver injury concerns could demand more from Treylon Burks
And with both McLaurin and Diggs' availability in significant doubt, Burks must embrace the challenge of being an offensive focal point against the New York Giants if given the chance.
The 2022 first-round pick out of Arkansas still has untapped potential. Now, Washington might need to see what he can do as WR1.
If this unfortunate scenario becomes reality, Burks must deliver.
Third-round rookie Antonio Williams has more targets and receptions than Burks this year, but he has largely played in the slot to begin his NFL career. The former Tennessee Titan is the outside guy who'll draw top cornerback assignments should neither McLaurin nor Diggs suit up, and he's got the speed to stretch the field and open things up underneath.
Burks has the physical profile. Things haven't gone according to plan as yet, but this could be the big audition he's looking for.
Even if that comes almost by default.
Treylon Burks must turn potential into substance if Terry McLaurin and Stefon Diggs can't go
Washington will be extremely thin at receiver if both McLaurin and Diggs are out. Jaylin Lane is also done for the season with an ankle fracture, so Williams, Burks, Dyami Brown, and Luke McCaffrey have to carry the load.
It's still not a horrible room — certainly better than last year when Chris Moore and Robbie Chosen were racking up targets at various points. Even so, somebody needs to be the go-to guy for quarterback Jayden Daniels in his return.
And it might have to be Burks.
Burks was a first-round pick for a reason, and his flashes have been outstanding. His one-handed grab against the Denver Broncos last year was arguably the catch of the season by any player in the NFL. And the Commanders believed more could be on the way after giving him a new one-year deal this offseason.
However, it's hard to produce consistently when your quarterbacks are an aging Ryan Tannehill, Malik Willis, and Will Levis. Injuries also took their toll on the former Razorbacks playmaker, ultimately forcing the Titans to wave the white flag last fall.
Burks is a reclamation project in Washington, and Daniels and Marcus Mariota are by far the best passers he's ever played with. But while everyone was healthy, he's been buried on the depth chart in a deep receiving corps.
Now, Burks might have the opportunity he's waited for his whole career.
We'll see what he does with it.
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