Burks, Treylon He broke his collarbone during practice, which will probably keep him out of action for several weeks and possibly put him on the PUP list at the beginning of the season. The Titans have acquired
On Saturday, July 26, 2025, during Tennessee Titans training camp at Nissan Stadium, wide receiver Treylon Burks suffered a fractured collarbone while making a diving, one‑handed sideline catch from rookie quarterback Cam Ward. He landed hard on his shoulder and immediately left the field for medical evaluation Within two days—on Monday, July 28—the Titans officially waived Burks with an injury designation. That move gave other NFL teams a 24‑hour window to claim him; if unclaimed, he reverts to the Titans’ injured reserve, from which he could reach an injury settlement or negotiate with the team over the next five days
From the moment Burks departed the field, his situation became deeply symbolic of a broader narrative within Tennessee’s franchise. Selected 18th overall in the 2022 NFL Draft, the pick used to take Burks was acquired from the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for then‑star receiver A.J. Brown. The Titans envisioned Burks as Brown’s heir, but the trajectory diverged sharply from expectations
Coming out of Arkansas, Burks had the size—6′2″, 225 lbs—and the physical traits the Titans coveted. Yet in three seasons, he managed just 53 receptions for 699 yards and one touchdown across 27 games with 17 starts . His rookie year showed promise with 444 receiving yards and a touchdown, but that ended up being his best statistical output. In 2023 he logged just 221 yards, and a season-ending ACL tear in October 2024 sidelined him for the final 12 games
As the 2025 season approached, Tennessee declined Burks’ fifth‑year contract option, making 2025 a make‑or‑break campaign for both sides. The Titans had no further financial obligation in 2026, signaling a lack of long-term confidence. Burks acknowledged he was playing to “prove myself right,” but coaches and analysts saw his future as increasingly tenuou
Head coach Brian Callahan, reflecting on the offseason, admitted that early reliance on Burks stemmed from his draft pedigree, even when backup receivers like Nick Westbrook‑Ikhine may have earned more playing time. And while the team could have cut him without cap savings, placing him on PUP or injured reserve remained the simplest route if he wasn’t ready for camp
Having returned ahead of schedule from the ACL surgery, Burks appeared poised to compete for the No. 3 receiver role behind veterans Calvin Ridley and Tyler Lockett. The nickname burgeoning in league circles was that Burks was in “the best shape of his life” and motivated for the pivotal year. Yet everything unraveled in that tragic camp moment when he fractured his collarbone in a catch attempt — a cruel twist of fate that forced Tennessee’s hand
Once the fracture was confirmed, the Titans acted swiftly. Waiving him instead of simply placing him on IR reflected both the severity of his injuries and a desire to reset the roster. The move also symbolically closed the chapter on what many consider one of the most disastrous trades in franchise history — the one that sent A.J. Brown away
Fans and media revived criticism of former GM Jon Robinson, who brokered the Brown trade. Brown thrived in Philadelphia—garnering Pro Bowl seasons in 2022 and 2023 and instrumental in their 2025 Super Bowl win, collecting over 4,000 receiving yards and 25 touchdowns in that period. In contrast, Burks’ output in Tennessee stood as a glaring underperformance
With Burks out of the picture, Tennessee signed receiver Ramel Keyton, a former University of Tennessee player, to fill the depth chart void. The team also bolstered their receiving corps through veteran signings and the 2025 draft—selecting Chimere Dike and Elic Ayomanor, and maintaining Calvin Ridley, Tyler Lockett, and Van Jefferson
As the regular season loomed, expectations shifted heavily toward rookie quarterback Cam Ward, the No. 1 pick in the 2025 draft. The Titans hoped their revamped pass-catchers could support the young signal caller while they retooled under previously unsuccessful stints from Will Levis and others
Before the injury, there was modest buzz about potential trades for Burks, though reality was increasingly against it. Sports Illustrated noted that the Kansas City Chiefs could view him as a low‑cost, size‑oriented addition and might offer a conditional late‑round pick—all while absorbing a modest salary cap hit. The Pittsburgh Steelers also emerged as a possible destination, with offensive coordinator Arthur Smith having familiar history with Burks’ size and contested‑catch style. However, as his injuries piled up, interest waned drastically
From the analyst angle, teams who might entertain trading for him would pay a minimal price—maybe a conditional sixth or even seventh‑round pick—because of the high risk involved. Most agreed that sticking with Tennessee on injured reserve would be the most realistic outcome if Burks cleared waivers (SI, SI,
Titans fans on Reddit and social media were vocal. One longtime observer proclaimed “A.J. Brown for Burks… Jon Robinson should be banned from football” and labeled Burks a token of poor drafting. Other voices called for moving on entirely, suggesting Tennessee’s best path forward was to cut bait and focus on emerging talent
Internally, head coach Callahan had downplayed expectations entering camp, suggesting Burks still had to earn his spot after declining the fifth‑year option. He had acknowledged that Burks would likely miss training camp entirely if not yet cleared—a telling admission of where he stood in the depth chart hierarchy (NBC
If no team claims Burks off waivers, he will revert to Tennessee’s injured reserve. From there, the Titans will have five days to negotiate either an injury settlement or evaluate his progress to potentially keep him on the roster. Given his ~$4.6 million cap hit in 2025 and fully guaranteed contract, cutting him offers no financial saving; PUP or IR would free up the 90-man offseason roster spot without terminating his deal
For Burks, if he does make it back, this 2025 season was to be a last chance to show he could still contribute. He had expressed personal motivation, but with the injury collapse before the first meaningful work, his opportunity evaporated before it began
The Titans, meanwhile, appear committed to resetting their offense with a youth-plus-veteran approach: Cam Ward at quarterback, Ridley and Lockett as the veteran leaders, and newly drafted rookies expected to play roles. Burks—again not picked up beyond this year—no longer fits into that future plan. Their roster moves suggest they will not look backick (used on Burks) now looms large as a self-inflicted wound. Brown’s subsequent Pro Bowl performances and Super Bowl victory for Philadelphia contrast starkly with Burks’ injury-plagued tenure in Tennessee. Critics lampoon former GM Jon Robinson’s decision-making, and Burks’ presence has come to represent one of the franchise’s most costly missteps
What was supposed to be a seamless transition at receiver grew into a cautionary tale: value lost, draft capital wasted, and depth chart instability. Even after multiple coaching changes and system adjustments, Burks never found his footing, reinforcing the importance of health and opportunity in the NFL.
Ultimately, Treylon Burks’ fractured collarbone in late July 2025 served as the final indicator that both he—and the Titans—were ready to move on. His tenure encapsulated a series of setbacks, from injuries to poor organizational timing, culminating in a move that sealed his fate. The Titans formally waived him with an injury designation on July 28, and now the league and fans wait to see whether another franchise will give him a rim‑shot chance, or whether this signals the end of his time in Tennessee—and perhaps his stunted NFL career
With no fifth‑year option, fresh competition at receiver, a new front office regime, and no financial upside to retain him long-term, Burks’ window in Nashville has closed. And should he clear waivers and revert to IR, Tennessee will likely finalize an injury settlement or eventually release him, officially closing the chapter on a once‑hopeful young receiver whose body—and circumstances—simply never aligned with expectations.
That’s the full story—Burks’ injury, the organizational fallout, the trade legacy, roster strategy and what lies ahead for both him and the Titans as they move on without him, in richly detailed form.
