The Washington Commanders’ unofficial depth chart may not mean much in August, but for Treylon Burks, it landed like a jolt of electricity.
Burks showed up listed as a starting wide receiver next to Terry McLaurin and Stefon Diggs ahead of the team’s Week 1 matchup with the Philadelphia Eagles. Third-round rookie Antonio Williams was placed behind him, and while the Clemson product could eventually push past Burks, the early nod is still a major statement.
For a player whose NFL start has been slowed by injuries and frustration, that kind of trust matters. Burks signed a new one-year deal with Washington this offseason, and part of the appeal was offensive coordinator David Blough’s plan for him. Based on the depth chart, Blough appears ready to follow through.
The Commanders’ receiver room is crowded and flexible. McLaurin and Diggs sit at the top, but the rest of the group has to fight for every snap. Burks could get the first crack at proving he belongs in that mix when Washington takes the field at Lincoln Financial Field.
That’s a welcome turn for a player who seemed to need a fresh start. The Tennessee Titans eventually moved on from Burks, and the combination of injuries and a lack of confidence stalled his momentum. Washington has given him something different: stability, and with it, a chance to reset.
Burks isn’t the only name in the conversation. Williams has long-term upside, Dyami Brown could carve out targets after making the roster, and Jaylin Lane and Luke McCaffrey bring special-teams value right now.
Still, Burks has the tools that jump off the page. The athleticism is there.
The physical traits are there. What has to follow is consistency, one good outing after another.
The opening assignment won’t be soft. Philadelphia’s offense has its own questions, but its defense should be a strength, and the cornerback trio of Quinyon Mitchel, Cooper DeJean, and free-agent signing Riq Woolen gives the Eagles plenty of options to challenge receivers on the outside.
So yes, this is a real test for Burks and for Washington’s passing game as a whole. But if Blough is willing to put Burks in that spot, the Commanders are clearly betting he can handle it.
For Burks, that belief might be the biggest development of all. It’s the chance he has been waiting for, and now the hard part begins: making it stick.
In Other News...
Commanders Just Added Receiver Depth That Could Matter Faster Than Expected
The Commanders added another layer to their receiver room by signing Van Jefferson Jr. to the practice squad as they turn the page into Week 1 prep. Jefferson had turned in a solid training camp, but he was the odd man out when Washington finalized its 53-man roster, with Luke McCaffrey getting the nod instead.
Even so, Jefferson never felt far from the picture, and this move gives Washington a familiar contingency if the position group gets hit by injuries or simply needs more production. For a roster still sorting out its early-season depth, it is the kind of addition that could matter sooner than expected. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Just Made Jaden Bradleys Early Path A Lot Tougher
The Commanders added another experienced receiver to the practice squad in Van Jefferson Jr., a move that gives Washington more depth behind its top pass catchers and subtly raises the bar for everyone else in the receiver room. For a young player like undrafted rookie Jaden Bradley, who also landed on the practice squad, it means the margin for earning attention just got a little slimmer even before the season settles into its rhythm.
Bradley still has something working in his favor: Washington views him as more than just camp depth and likes the work ethic that helped him hang around. The challenge now is turning that developmental spot into a real path forward, especially with veteran competition in the building and the practice squad becoming a proving ground rather than a placeholder. [Read more 🡒]
Ron Riveras Biggest Commanders Draft Miss Still Hurts Washingtons Secondary
Christian Gonzalezs new deal in New England only sharpens the memory of what Washington passed on in the 2023 NFL Draft. The Patriots cornerback has now reset the market at his position with a four-year, $135 million extension, a reminder of how quickly the wrong draft-night call can echo through a roster. For the Commanders, the contrast is hard to miss, because the player they chose instead has already moved on after a brief, rocky stint in Washington.
Emmanuel Forbes Jr. was waived by the Commanders and is now with the Los Angeles Rams, leaving Washington still searching for answers at cornerback. The secondary has been a persistent concern, and Gonzalezs rise only adds weight to a decision that already looks like one of Ron Riveras most painful misses. What was once a debate about fit and upside now sits as a clear illustration of how much the Commanders could have used the steadier option. [Read more 🡒]