Ruscin & Zach July 28
We have lots of sports to discuss.
OK who are we kidding…there isn’t anything going on and we are just eating innings at this point.
Titans waive Burks after training camp injury ends unsteady run
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. The Tennessee Titans’ gamble on former Arkansas Razorback wide receiver Treylon Burks ended not with a bang, but a sigh.
On Monday, after a weekend practice injury left the third-year wide receiver with a fractured collarbone, the team waived the former first-round pick, signaling the end of a once-promising partnership that never quite found its stride.
Burks, a native of Warren, Ark., suffered the injury during a diving attempt at a deep ball in the end zone at Titans training camp, according to multiple reports. The moment was abrupt, but the sense of finality had been building for months.
Injuries had become a refrain in Burks’ career: a torn ACL in October 2023, recurring concussions, and a persistent struggle to stay on the field defined his time in Tennessee.
The Titans’ decision was as much about the future as it was about the past. With new additions like Calvin Ridley and Tyler Lockett reshaping the wide receiver room, Burks, once drafted in 2022 to help fill the void left by A.J. Brown’s departure, had slipped down the depth chart, fighting for a roster spot before his latest setback.
As general manager Ran Carthon noted in a statement, “This is a tough business and an unfortunate situation. We wish Treylon the best as he recovers.”
When Burks arrived out of Arkansas as the 18th overall pick, expectations were high. His blend of size, speed, and production in the SEC led many to believe he could be a game-changer for a franchise in transition.
In his rookie season, Burks flashed potential, racking up 444 receiving yards in 11 games. But that momentum faltered as injuries mounted, and consistency remained elusive.
Burks’ journey was already complicated by health concerns. He battled turf toe as a rookie, missed games with a concussion, and suffered a torn ACL that sidelined him for most of the 2023 season. By the time he returned to training camp this summer, his place in the Titans’ plans was precarious.
The fractured collarbone—sustained while trying to make a one-handed catch—was the final blow. As is customary, Burks was waived/injured, meaning he will revert to the Titans’ injured reserve list if unclaimed by another team.
In that case, he and the Titans could reach an injury settlement, allowing him to seek opportunities elsewhere once healthy.
Reaction to the move was swift and, in some corners, sympathetic.
“It’s tough to see a young guy with so much promise go through this,” Titans veteran receiver Tyler Lockett told local reporters. “He worked hard every day. The injuries just kept piling up.”
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport said, “Sometimes, a fresh start is what a player needs. Burks still has tools that teams covet. It’s just a matter of getting healthy and finding the right fit.”
The Titans, meanwhile, are forging ahead. With Ridley and Lockett leading the receiving corps, and prospects like Elic Ayomanor and Chimere Dike vying for snaps, the team’s focus has shifted to building chemistry for a new-look offense.
As for Burks, his future in the NFL remains uncertain. Players waived/injured rarely generate immediate interest unless their injury is minor, but Burks is young enough to attract attention once healthy.
His skill set, a blend of size, catch radius, and run-after-catch ability—could entice a team willing to wait out his recovery.
“Burks has shown flashes,” said ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. “He’ll get another shot if he can show he’s healthy.”
The saga of Burks is a reminder of the unforgiving nature of professional football, where talent alone doesn’t guarantee longevity.
Burks, for his part, will have to wait and heal. Whether his NFL story continues in Tennessee or elsewhere, he’ll need both time and luck to fulfill the promise that made him a first-round pick just three years ago.
“I want to thank the Titans organization and the fans for believing in me,” Burks said in a statement released by his agent. “I’ll be back. It’s just a matter of when.”
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Bud Light Morning Rush Podcast: 7-28-25
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Former Razorback Burks suffers fractured collarbone in training camp
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.
Ruscin & Zach July 25
We offer up our bums of the week, talk about some other stuff from the week and more.
Razorbacks applaud Trump’s college sports order, sparking national discussion
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas athletic director Hunter Yurachek praised President Donald Trump’s “Saving College Sports” executive order Thursday, saying it could have a positive impact on student-athletes and the future of college athletics.
“Our Razorback student-athletes across all 19 sports, past and present, have benefited from a life-changing academic and athletic experience,” Yurachek said on social media. “This executive order can have a positive impact on the future of college athletics.”
Arkansas men’s basketball coach John Calipari also welcomed the measure.
“This will create opportunity for meaningful dialogue and movement toward a clearer picture of college athletics for everyone,” Calipari wrote on social media.
The executive order, signed by Trump in Washington, directs federal agencies to clarify that student-athletes are not employees and bans so-called “pay-for-play” name, image and likeness (NIL) deals.
The order also mandates scholarship protections for Olympic and women’s sports and instructs the Department of Justice and Federal Trade Commission to address legal challenges threatening college athletics.
“It is the policy of my Administration that all college sports should be preserved and, where possible, expanded,” the order states.
The NCAA, which oversees collegiate sports nationwide, said it supports federal action to protect college athletics and student-athletes.
“The NCAA is making positive changes for student-athletes and confronting many challenges facing college sports by mandating health and wellness benefits and guaranteeing scholarships,” NCAA President Charlie Baker said in a statement. He added, “There are some threats to college sports that federal legislation can effectively address and the Association is advocating with student-athletes and their schools for a bipartisan solution with Congress and the Administration.”
The order comes as college sports face mounting legal and financial pressures. In recent years, state legislatures and courts have loosened restrictions on athlete compensation, leading to what some officials call an “arms race” in recruiting and NIL payments.
Trump’s order bans third-party “pay-for-play” deals, in which boosters or other groups directly pay athletes for their performance or as a recruitment inducement. The order threatens to withhold federal funding from institutions that violate the rule.
The White House said the order is designed to protect the viability of non-revenue college sports.
“President Trump wrote it’s the policy of his administration ‘that all college sports should be preserved and, where possible, expanded.’”
Nationally, the order drew praise from former Alabama football coach Nick Saban, who called it “a huge step in the right direction for student-athletes and the future of college sports,” former Alabama coach Nick Saban said on Fox and Friends on Friday morning.
Some legal analysts say the order’s impact may depend on future court challenges and congressional action.
“Executive orders are neither laws nor can they override existing statutes,” Sports Business Journal reported. The order’s direction to clarify the status of student-athletes as non-employees could shape ongoing litigation over athletes’ rights and benefits.
Athletic directors across the country are recalibrating their approach. Many are concerned about the order’s enforcement and the continued viability of scholarships for non-revenue sports.
“Waves of recent litigation against collegiate athletics governing rules have eliminated limits on athlete compensation, pay-for-play recruiting, and booster involvement in ways that threaten the traditional model,” Yahoo Sports reported.
Student-athletes and coaches say they are watching closely.
“I just want to play and get my education. All this stuff makes it harder to know what’s coming next,” said an SEC football player, who requested anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue.
The NCAA, Congress and the White House are expected to continue discussions in the coming months. Yurachek said the order is “just the beginning of a longer conversation.”
The new policy takes effect immediately, but its long-term impact remains uncertain.
Bud Light Morning Rush Podcast: 7-25-25
Remembering the iconic life of Hulk Hogan, schools banning cell-phone use, hear from the Head Hog!
Guests: The Fence Man and Coach Sam Pittman!
Razorbacks coach Sam Pittman on leadership positives for coming season
Having guys stepping into those positions on both sides of the ball around lots of questions biggest positive for Hogs coach.
