NASHVILLE – Last October, a devastated Treylon Burks left the practice fields at Ascension Saint Thomas Sports Park after suffering a torn ACL during a special teams drill.
Eight months later, Burks was walking on an adjacent practice field holding his daughter, his wife by his side, on the team's Family Day. He'd just finished the final practice of a three-day minicamp, signaling the end of the offseason.
With a smile, Burks said he hasn't dwelled on his misfortune, not with the blessings in his life.
"I feel amazing, just blessed," Burks said. "I've just been leaning on God, leaning on the people that believe in me, care. And I feel really good, and happy to be in the situation I'm in."
A first-round pick of the Titans in the 2022 NFL Draft, Burks is in the final stages of his recovery from his torn ACL.
Coach Brian Callahan estimated last week Burks went through individuals drills at roughly 80 percent during the offseason, when he sat out of 7-on-7 and team drills. Coaches and trainers have been careful with Burks, who has worked hard to put himself in a position to compete.
Burks said he's ahead of schedule, and where many thought he'd be.
How did he do it?
"It really starts with your mental, man," Burks said. "Tearing an ACL, having any big injury like that, is definitely devastating. I did it by the grace of God, just to make it simple. I wouldn't be able to do it without Him, without the courage He provides me. My daughter, my wife, a lot of friends, family. It means more when you are able to do it for just a bigger purpose than just yourself, I pride myself on that."
"I'm just blessed by the grace of God, and the people that have poured into me, and have worked with me every day to get me back to where I am now. I am just extremely excited to get back and play ball again."
Burks has had his share of misfortune since entering the NFL.
He's missed time with a number of injuries, including concussions. Burks was briefly knocked unconscious in a game at Pittsburgh during the 2023 season.
The most recent setback came last October, and resulted in him being placed on Injured Reserve on October 19, ending his 2024 season.
"A freak accident," Burks said. "It happens all the time across the league, different sports. You look at Jayson Tatum (of the Celtics), he tore his Achilles in a freak, non-contact play. It's part of the game, sports."
Burks said he initially got down, but eventually found himself lifted up, even more motivated to return.
"I never questioned God, like, 'Why me?," Burks said. "But it did put the mindset in my head, on if I still love the game, because it comes with a lot. And, just from going out every day, seeing what the guys are going through, watching it from home, it made me miss it more, and (now I want) to honor it.
"Every day that I am here at this facility, and every day that I am working, I don't take it for granted. It means a lot more to me now. I'm not saying it didn't mean a lot before, but it definitely means more now."
In three NFL seasons, Burks has recorded 53 catches for 699 yards and a touchdown. He had his best season as a rookie in 2022, when he recorded 33 catches for 444 yards. Burks has missed a number of games with injuries, never playing in more than 11 games in each of his first three years in the league.
This offseason the Titans added veteran receivers Van Jefferson and Tyler Lockett, and drafted receivers Chimere Dike and Elic Ayomanor. The Titans currently have 13 receivers on the roster.
When camp begins, Burks will find himself in a tough spot to make the team.
Burks said he's focused on himself.
"I am not going out to prove nobody wrong, I am going out to prove myself right," he said. "I tore my ACL (last October) and I am running. I am running routes, doing everything within those seven months, and it's like, "Wow." And it's nobody but God who made it happen. That's who I play for and that's who I lean on.
"I am not worried about whoever is in the room or whoever we've got. We're a team and we're going to go out and play ball."
So, will Burks be cleared and ready for camp?
Well, he knows others are involved in making that decision.
But he's an optimistic person.
"God, coaches and the trainers (will decide)," Burks said. "But I will do my part to make sure I am prepared if that time comes."
