Commanders can't hide their excitement over WR Treylon Burks

Wide receiver Treylon Burks played his third game for the Washington Commanders in Sunday night's 27-26 loss to the Denver Broncos. It was a phenomenal performance from both teams, even if the officiating was gross and incompetent. The highlight of the game came early in the third quarter when Washington quarterback Marcus Mariota found Burks for a five-yard touchdown pass.

It was the second career touchdown for the Tennessee Titans' 2022 first-round pick and his first for Washington. It may have been the NFL catch of the year.

Odell Beckham Jr., who made one of the greatest catches in NFL history, acknowledged Burks on social media.

While that would be his only catch, Burks has clearly made an impression since first joining the Commanders six weeks ago. Last week, head coach Dan Quinn praised Burks.

"In the short time that I've gotten to know him, I've sensed first like a hungry competitor, and uh, and we've seen that a lot where somebody needs a fresh start, a fresh space, a new outlook, and sometimes a new space to go do that and express who they are as a player," Quinn said.

After Sunday's game, Quinn and the Commanders were buzzing about Burks.

"His hunger index is high," Quinn said after Sunday's game. "Like this a guy that is wanting to prove it, and there's always a space for that type of competitor here. Coming in, man, like this was a fresh space. And to see him express how important it is, how hard he wants to go compete, like it's been cool to see. Everybody's got a journey, you know, and sometimes they start one way and doesn't have to stay that way. And coming here I felt nothing but intensity from him to go. And then even with his finger, ‘Okay, is it going to be out longer? Nope’. And so, if you saw the stitches when you come out, I think there's no way this guy's playing next week [laughs], and then all of a sudden he's got a big splint on it. ‘Yeah, I'm good, I'm playing.’"

Burks broke his finger in only his second game with the Commanders, but missed one game. That impressed Washington coaches and players. Part of why things didn't work out for Burks in Tennessee was injuries. It was a string of bad luck for Burks with the Titans, who finally waived him in October.

As soon as Burks became available, Commanders GM Adam Peters was interested. For a team that needs help at receiver and lacking draft picks, Burks was an interesting player to develop. Perhaps a change of scenery would be good for him.

"I think there's a lot there, and I'm really excited he's here," Quinn continued. "I just visited with him earlier tonight before I came in, just he's got gratitude for being here, but he's also to me, it's back to him. It's like, no, no, I've got gratitude for the way you're working and the way you're putting out effort, and there's going to be a big plan for you here."

Did you catch that last line? There's a 'big plan for you here.'

The Commanders hope quarterback Jayden Daniels can return next week against the Vikings. It would be a chance to see Burks work with Daniels and a healthy Terry McLaurin. While the Commanders still need to add a young receiver to the room in the offseason, Burks has already played his way into Washington's future plans.

He just needs some good luck on his side and to remain healthy.

This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Washington Commanders: Dan Quinn gushes over WR Treylon Burks