FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — A diving, one-handed catch during a Saturday practice session at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee., has left Tennessee wide receiver Treylon Burks with a fractured collarbone.
It’s a blow to both a promising comeback of the former Arkansas Razorback and Tennessee’s hopes for the upcoming NFL season.
The injury, confirmed by multiple outlets, occurred as Burks attempted to secure a deep sideline pass from rookie quarterback Cameron Ward. His momentum sent him crashing shoulder-first into the turf, the ball secure, the player not.
“Treylon Burks is being evaluated right now for a shoulder injury and we’ll have an update on his status at the appropriate time,” Titans coach Brian Callahan told reporters after practice.
While initial details were sparse, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport confirmed the fractured collarbone diagnosis later that afternoon. The setback comes just as Burks appeared physically ready to reclaim his spot as a top playmaker after a series of injuries had derailed his early career.
For Burks, 24, the timing couldn’t be more difficult.
Last October, he tore his ACL in practice and missed the remainder of the 2023 season, a period that forced him to watch from the sidelines and kept him out of most offseason activities.
“The last three years, my injuries limited me from being who I really am,” Burks told reporters at the start of training camp this summer. “I feel like I’m in a good place, man. God has brought me from the lowest to the highest and highest to the lowest. I’m blessed for that.”
Drafted 18th overall in 2022, the Arkansas product entered the league with high expectations, touted as a dynamic receiver with the physical tools to anchor an evolving Titans offense.
Injuries have kept him from finding a rhythm, and through three seasons, Burks has played in only 27 games, notching 53 receptions for 699 yards and a single touchdown. The Titans declined to pick up his fifth-year option this spring, setting up a make-or-break campaign that now faces another unwanted pause.
The Titans moved quickly to address the gap in their receiver room, signing former Raiders wideout Ramel Keyton, as confirmed by Keyton’s agent Zac Hiller to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Keyton, who played eight games for Las Vegas last year, will join a roster suddenly in need of depth and experience at the position.
Inside the Titans organization, Burks’ injury is yet another challenge for first-year general manager Mike Borgonzi and Callahan. The team is coming off a transitional offseason, with major changes on the sidelines and in the front office.
Burks, who arrived at camp in top shape and with a renewed sense of purpose, had made a strong early impression on both coaches and teammates.
“He was flying around, making plays,” said quarterback Cameron Ward in a brief post-practice interview. “It’s tough to see a guy who’s worked that hard go down.”
The Titans’ wide receiver depth chart, already thin after offseason departures and injuries, now features veterans DeAndre Hopkins and Nick Westbrook-Ikhine alongside young prospects and Keyton.
The team had hoped Burks could develop into a reliable second option for Hopkins, who remains the group’s anchor after signing a lucrative deal last year.
“We just have to rally,” Hopkins said. “We know Treylon will fight to get back as soon as he can.”
Burks’ injury also raises questions about his long-term future in Nashville, especially in a league where availability is often a team’s most valuable asset.
The timeline for Burks’ return remains uncertain. Medical experts estimate that a fractured collarbone typically requires six to eight weeks of recovery, sometimes longer if surgery is necessary or complications arise.
The Titans have declined to speculate publicly on a specific timetable, but several outlets report he will likely miss at least the start of the regular season.
For fans, the loss of Burks is a gut punch to a summer that had buzzed with optimism following the team’s draft and free agency moves. Social media lit up with messages of support and frustration as news of the injury broke.
The Titans, meanwhile, will look to find answers internally and hope Ramel Keyton can make an immediate impact.
Training camp reps and preseason games will now take on added importance as the team evaluates its options and looks to build chemistry with a new cast of characters.
