Hogs Haven
Commanders.com
Burks was waived by Tennessee on Oct. 7 after suffering a fractured collarbone while making a diving, one-handed catch at training camp in July.
The search for his next NFL team started sooner than he had thought, and Burks didn’t know what to expect when he arrived at BigBear.ai Performance Center for a workout on Oct. 15. Although visiting with the Commanders wasn’t his first workout, the free agent experience marked the first time Burks was trying out for an NFL team since he had participated in the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine as a draft prospect.
“It was definitely different, just never going through that type of process before, but I believed in my abilities and God, and it went well,” Burks said.
Burks put his best foot forward in every workout he attended. He ultimately ended up with a couple offers from NFL teams, and in choosing his next team, Burks prioritized feeling appreciated by the organization. No matter where he went, Burks wanted a team to want him as much as he wanted them.
Burks felt valued by the Commanders during his visit and ultimately decided to sign with Washington’s practice squad because he felt they had chosen him just as he had chosen them.
Burks’ signing with the Commanders comes at a time the team is experiencing tumult at the wide receiver position. Veteran Noah Brown was placed on Injured Reserve with a groin injury on Oct. 15, while Terry McLaurin has missed four games with a quad injury and Deebo Samuel Sr. missed Week 6 with a heel injury.
Since arriving in Washington, Burks has been working hard to learn the Commanders’ offensive system. His physicality and size make him a good fit for offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury’s scheme. Burks finds the offense to be like the one he ran in college at Arkansas and is excited and grateful for the opportunity to work in a system that shows off his skillset.
Riggo’s Rag
There’s still that lingering feeling that, if Jayden Daniels is on the field, the Commanders have a shot.
The second-year quarterback hasn’t had the linear rise some expected following a sensational rookie campaign that won him NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year honors. Injuries have limited him, and other varying outliers have minimized his impact.
But his mere presence on the field transforms the energy of the roster — the rhythm, the confidence, the execution. The former LSU phenom’s ability to mask offensive inefficiencies is the great equalizer. For all of Washington’s holes — protection breakdowns, inconsistent weapons, and a running game that’s been up and down — Daniels gives them a chance to compete.
The difference between a Commanders offense led by Daniels and one without him isn’t just visible — it’s visceral. The entire tempo of the unit changes when he’s under center. He’s...
