When Treylon Burks was listed as a starting wide receiver on the Washington Commanders' depth chart before Week 1 against the Philadelphia Eagles, many thought this could be the big opportunity he'd been waiting for. Just a few days later, that proved otherwise.
Instead of starting, Burks was a healthy scratch at Lincoln Financial Field. And he was listed behind Terry McLaurin on the Week 2 depth chart, not as the starting slot receiver.
Make of that what you will, but it's clear the coaching staff may not rate Burks as highly as fans believed earlier in the summer.
Treylon Burks' fortunes with the Commanders have taken a shift ffor the worse
Of course, depth charts don't mean much at this stage. One look at Burks' recent fortunes would tell you that. But being a healthy scratch with others preferred ahead of him for such a key game spoke volumes.
Burks is a squad piece and nothing more for now. And when his time does eventually come, it could be a do-or-die scenario.
This isn't what Burks had in mind when he signed a new deal with the Commanders this offseason. He was encouraged by his projected role within new offensive coordinator David Blough's scheme, and getting another shot gave the Arkansas product some much-needed stability after things fell flat with the Tennessee Titans.
That might still happen. But it's clear that Burks is already facing an uphill battle to stay relevant.
The Commanders have Terry McLaurin and Stefon Diggs as their top receiver duo. Rookie third-round pick Antonio Williams flashed immense potential on his NFL debut, and he is the No. 3 option after just one game. Jaylin Lane was the starting kick and punt returner, and Dyami Brown also got some time on the field after being preferred over Burks and Luke McCaffrey.
This was a harsh reality check for Burks. If there was ever a time to raise his effort and finally make the most of his outstanding physical attributes, it's now.
Treylon Burks cannot afford to become an afterthought with the Commanders
Anything less, and another new contract might not be forthcoming when the 2027 offseason arrives.
It's early days. A lot can happen in the coming months. All it will take is an injury, underperformance, and perhaps even a favorable matchup to get Burks back in the mix. And when that moment arrives, he must seize it.
Burks cannot afford to become an afterthought. The athletic gifts are there, but something is preventing the Commanders from giving him more responsibility. They have improved options in the passing game, but this is the sort of player who should be getting opportunities.
Therefore, it's a confidence issue. And it works both ways.
If Blough trusted him, Burks would be involved. It's not there right now, and the player just hasn't generated the momentum required. Until that changes, he might be watching from the sidelines a lot more.
This is a far cry from the optimism around Burks from just a few short days ago.
And the challenge facing the 2022 first-round selection cannot be overstated.
The Commanders are not running a charity. Everyone has to earn their playing time, from the franchise cornerstones to the depth pieces and everything in between. Competition for spots has increased, and the pressure is building to right last season's wrong.
Anyone going through the motions won't be involved. Burks is working hard, but recent events suggest he's pretty far down the food chain.
When, or if, that changes anytime soon might also be out of his hands.
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