Treylon Burks has role on Tennessee Titans roster, even with Tyler Boyd, Brian Callahan says

Tennessee Titans coach Brian Callahan says he's committed to third-year receiver Treylon Burks having a role in the offense this year, even after the team agreed to terms on a contract with veteran Tyler Boyd this week.

Boyd, an eight-year pro who's spent his entire career with the Cincinnati Bengals, hasn't signed his contract with the Titans yet, but a source confirmed to The Tennessean on Tuesday that a deal is done. This gives the Titans a veteran trio of Boyd, DeAndre Hopkins and Calvin Ridley at receiver, theoretically leaving Burks as the odd-man out in the Titans' base three-receiver sets.

The Titans' first-round pick in 2022, Burks has struggled to produce and stay healthy in his first two pro seasons, catching only one touchdown in 22 games.

"We’ve made very clear to Treylon that the signing of Tyler isn’t about him," Callahan told media Thursday. "It’s about helping our team get better. Adding better players to our team. Making us a competitive football team. What he’s done and how he’s worked has been great. I’m anticipating him still being able to play a good role for us."

THE BIG GUY: Is T'Vondre Sweat too heavy? 3 of biggest D-linemen in NFL history discuss Titans 2nd-rounder

Callahan calls Boyd a "fantastic" slot receiver, plugging one of the biggest holes Callahan said he saw in the Titans' roster before the NFL draft. Only three receivers were targeted with more passes out of the slot last season than Boyd, playing in an offense coordinated by Callahan no less.

Boyd's familiarity with what Callahan likes to do is of huge appeal to Titans quarterback Will Levis, who said Thursday he's looking forward to absorbing Boyd's knowledge and replicating the success Boyd experienced as Cincinnati's slot option.

Boyd isn't practicing with the Titans yet, but Burks is, and Callahan wants to make it clear that Burks is having a strong offseason. He said Burks logged the top speed of any player in Titans practice Tuesday, topping out at 22.6 mph on a day where he traversed 3,591 yards during practice. Callahan said he had Burks break the Titans down out of the huddle after practice Thursday as well.

Callahan says Burks will play inside and outside receiver roles and believes the Arkansas product will carve a spot for himself alongside Ridley, Hopkins and Boyd.

"You’ve got to have guys that can play roles," Callahan said. "That hasn’t changed. It doesn’t change anything for Treylon as far as what we’re expecting from him and what I’m hopeful that he’s able to bring to the offense. We communicated that to him. He’s aware that (signing Boyd) is not about him."

THE 99th PERCENTILE: Numbers don't lie: Titans first-round pick JC Latham is unlike anyone football has seen

Nick Suss is the Titans beat writer for The Tennessean. Contact Nick at nsuss@gannett.com. Follow Nick on X, the platform formerly called Twitter, @nicksuss.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Titans signing Tyler Boyd not about Treylon Burks, Brian Callahan says