Treylon Burks knew he had to switch it up. After two underwhelming seasons, the Tennessee Titans wide receiver was determined to get into crazy shape this offseason.
The 24-year-old, who is expecting his first child this fall, texted Titans general manager Ran Carthon a new picture of his physique.
"I just dedicated myself to (losing weight) and just wanted to grind," Burks said after Saturday's practice from Nissan Stadium via Jim Wyatt of Titans Online. "It’s just something different that I wanted to try. Obviously, it’s helped out a lot since we started camp. I started doing it at the end of OTAs, and I wanted to keep doing it all the way through, and I just wanted to change my body.
How exactly did he do it?
"(I did) a little bit of everything," he said. "Running, lifting, eating right. I’ve got a newborn on the way, so I guess it’s the dad bod. I’ll say that."
Burks hopes the change helps him have a strong 2024 NFL season. The Arkansas product, who entered the league with a ton of pressure of being A.J. Brown's replacement, has been slowed by injuries and conditioning issues in his first two seasons.
After a rookie campaign in which he hauled in 33 receptions for 444 yards and one touchdown, Burks' production was cut in half last year despite being paired with DeAndre Hopkins.
Hopkins is back, but so are wide receivers Calvin Ridley and Tyler Boyd, who signed as free agents this offseason. It's safe to say that the Titans are not waiting for Burks to figure it out, which could make this coming season a challenge, with the ball likely to be spread around.
If he turns in another subpar year, Burks may find himself as a potential trade candidate or even cut from the roster.
