Washington Commanders wide receiver Treylon Burks Wesley Hitt/GettyImages

Commanders insider says the quiet part out loud about risky Treylon Burks gamble

Originally posted on Riggo's Rag | By Dean Jones | Last updated Oct 17, 2025 6:00 AM ET

Adam Peters is frantically trying to find solutions for the countless problems this Washington Commanders roster is dealing with right now. The injury bug has hit head coach Dan Quinn's squad more than most, and this is no more evident than in the wide receiver room.

Initially thought of as a potential strength coming into the campaign, health problems have decimated the group. Second-team All-Pro Terry McLaurin has missed the last three games. Noah Brown hasn't been seen since Week 2 against the Green Bay Packers, and the Commanders finally placed him on injured reserve after initially delaying the inevitable.

Deebo Samuel Sr. has been dealing with a heel problem. The Commanders are restricting his practice participation, but his production dip versus the Chicago Bears was a clear sign of how much the problem is bothering him.

Commanders insider braces fans for bad news after Treylon Burks signing

The Commanders have just three healthy receivers on the active roster. They now have five on the practice squad after signing former first-round pick Treylon Burks.

Washington brought in Burks for a visit this week, and they must have been suitably impressed. He was drafted No. 18 overall by the Tennessee Titans as the man to replace A.J. Brown. He never came close to meeting this billing, and injuries have also hindered his development. It's another risky dart throw, with one Commanders insider — JP Finlay from NBC Sports Washington — suggesting that this might not be good news for the likes of McLaurin, Brown, and Samuel.

I like the Burks signing. Super low risk and maybe pays off. But also pretty clear not much great news imminent with the current hurt WRs (McLaurin, Deebo)
— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) October 16, 2025

He's got a point. Five wide receivers on the practice squad is excessive for any team. This means that Peters has found contingency plans for every eventuality. And this latest transaction doesn't exactly paint a promising picture for those currently dealing with ailments.

Burks will need time to pick up the scheme and regain his football conditioning. He likely signed too late to feature this weekend against the Dallas Cowboys, but the Commanders are in no position to be taking their time. This is going to be a crash course for the Arkansas product, with time of the essence. If he can adjust effectively, he has the physical tools to be impactful.

It's not costing the Commanders much to find out what Burks can offer. He might not have reached his lofty draft status in Tennessee, but they're not exactly known for developing talent effectively. One only has to look at No. 1 pick Cam Ward's struggles and the firing of head coach Brian Callahan to see that.

Desperate times call for desperate measures. Nothing has been confirmed as yet, but fans should brace themselves for bad news when the final injury designations for Week 7 are revealed.

This article first appeared on Riggo's Rag and was syndicated with permission.

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