NASHVILLE — Wide receiver Treylon Burks has been one of the most popular talking points of the Tennessee Titans offseason. A new coaching staff's task: finding a role that gets the most out of the 2022 first-round pick.

That includes playing special teams.

Click here to accept Marketing cookies and load this content

"Absolutely, (Treylon)'s going to have to contribute," coach Brian Callahan said at Tennessee's mandatory minicamp. "You only get so many hats on game day and if he's one of those guys on game day, we're going to have to find a place for him because those special teams—guys like him should be great special teams players on top of it, just because of his size and speed."

At 6-2 and 225 lbs, Burks' physical gifts and athletic upside made him a former 18th overall draft choice. 

The former Arkansas receiver's pro career has not gone to plan, however. Burks has appeared in only 22 games in his first two NFL seasons due to injury. 2023 was a particularly frustrating year for Burks, who caught only 16 passes for 221 yards.

Burks has only one career touchdown reception since being drafted by Tennessee.

Special teams could provide a huge boost to Burks' future viability with the Titans. In March, NFL owners voted to change the league's kickoff rules. The new format will still see the ball kicked from the kicking team’s 35-yard line, but every player on the kicking team other than the kicker themself will now line up with at least one foot on the returning team’s 40-yard line.

At least nine members of the returning team will line up in a “setup zone” beginning five yards opposite on its own 35-yard line stretching to its own 30-yard line. A minimum of seven players must have a foot on what is known as the “restraining line." Teams can have up to two returners in the “landing zone," defined as the zone between the goal line and the 20-yard line.

No players other than the kicker and the returners can move until the ball is fielded by a returner.

If a kick hits the landing zone and then goes into the end zone, it has to be returned or downed by the receiving team. If it’s downed, it is ruled a touchback moved to the 20-yard line. If the ball hits the end zone and stays inbounds, it has to be returned or downed. If it’s downed, it is a touchback and moved to the 30-yard line. If the ball goes through and out of the end zone, it will be a touchback to the 30-yard line.

The rule change restores the kickoff to a legitimate offensive play, and has forced teams to reevaluate their rosters for players equipped to make a difference. 

Burks has been seen repping as a gunner on special teams during the team's offseason program, but returning kickoffs should not be out of the question. While the former first-rounder looks to earn the new offensive coaching staff's trust, any chance to make a difference in another phase of the game will help make his case. 

"The gunner thing is something I think (Burks is) very capable of doing," Callahan said. "There might be some more roles for him in the other phases as well. But yeah, anytime you're not the full-time starter, you're going to have to contribute somewhere on game day, and I think Trey's (Burks) attitude and approach to special teams have been fantastic. And so, I'm excited to see what he can do for us. I think he's an asset on special teams."

Tennessee has not returned a kickoff for a touchdown since November 2020, when A.J. Brown took an onside kick attempt by the Indianapolis Colts back for a 42-yard score. 

Titans offseason program ends after franchise overhaul

Did they do enough?

Featured Image: USA TODAY Sports.