Treylon Burks Delivers a Sunday Night Stunner - and a Reminder of What He Can Be
Treylon Burks didn’t just make a catch Sunday night - he made the catch. The kind of play that stops you mid-sentence, sends social media into a frenzy, and reminds everyone why he was once a first-round pick with sky-high expectations. On a third-and-goal in the third quarter, with the Washington Commanders looking to take the lead over the Denver Broncos, Burks elevated, extended, and somehow came down with a one-handed touchdown grab that defied physics and logic.
It was a moment that instantly drew comparisons to Odell Beckham Jr.’s iconic one-handed catch back in 2014 - and for good reason. Beckham himself took notice, praising Burks online and pointing out the shared No. 13 jersey.
But here’s the kicker: while Beckham was in the clear on his legendary grab, Burks made his with a defender draped all over him. That level of difficulty?
OH MY GOOOOOOOOODNESS 🤯🤯
— 49ers & NFL News 24/7 (@49ersSportsTalk) December 1, 2025
CATCH OF THE YEAR BY TREYLON BURKS pic.twitter.com/afokL7f7XS
Off the charts.
NBC’s Mike Tirico couldn’t contain his excitement, calling it an “unbelievable touchdown” in real time. Chris Collinsworth, never one to shy away from a good wide receiver moment, was equally stunned.
“Classic. One handed, one fingertip over the edge of the ball to stop that thing.
Stop it! That’s insane,” he said, capturing what everyone watching was thinking.
“That’s as good as you will… ever… see,” Tirico added.
For Burks, it was just his second career touchdown - and his first since 2022. But it felt like something more. It felt like a turning point.
Let’s rewind for a moment. Burks came into the league with a lot of buzz after a stellar three-year career at Arkansas.
At 6-foot-2, 225 pounds, he was a matchup nightmare in college, earning All-SEC honors in each of his three seasons. As a junior, he racked up 66 catches for 1,104 yards and 11 touchdowns - numbers that made him a no-brainer first-round pick for the Tennessee Titans in 2022.
The Titans saw Burks as a potential game-changer, especially after trading away A.J. Brown.
They envisioned him forming a dynamic duo with DeAndre Hopkins, but things never quite clicked. Injuries, inconsistent quarterback play, and limited opportunities kept him from finding his rhythm.
He flashed as a rookie with 33 catches for 444 yards and a touchdown - though he was hurt on that lone score - but his production dipped in the seasons that followed. Just 20 receptions across the next two years, and eventually, the Titans waived him in early October.
Washington picked him up 10 days later, and while the numbers hadn’t jumped off the page - only four catches for 72 yards heading into Sunday - there was always a sense that Burks just needed a chance. He missed time recently after undergoing finger surgery on his right hand, but returned to the field Sunday night. And what a return it was.
That touchdown wasn’t just a highlight-reel grab. It was a statement.
A reminder of the talent that made Burks a star in the SEC and a first-round pick in the NFL. A glimpse of what he can still become.
Even @OBJ was fired up about Treylon Burks' ridiculous one-handed touchdown catch 🔥 pic.twitter.com/0zLaVpaaoJ
— DraftKings (@DraftKings) December 1, 2025
At Arkansas, Burks didn’t just rack up stats - he made it look easy. He finished sixth all-time in receptions for the Razorbacks with 146, despite playing only three seasons.
Everyone else in the top 10 played four years. That tells you something about the kind of impact he had in Fayetteville.
Now, with Washington, there’s a real opportunity for him to carve out a role and re-establish himself as a legitimate NFL weapon. The catch won’t fix everything overnight, but it’s the kind of play that can shift momentum - not just in a game, but in a career.
Treylon Burks reminded us all of what he’s capable of. And if Sunday night was any indication, he might just be getting started.