Mike Vrabel on Treylon Burks' Injury: 'Not Going To Be Long-Term Thing'
EAGAN, Minn. — Tennessee coach Mike Vrabel met with the media on Thursday after the Titans' second joint practice with the Minnesota Vikings. It was the first chance to talk with him after wide receiver Treylon Burks injured his knee during Wednesday's workout.
Fans feared the worst after Burks, a second-year starting wide receiver, went down after a touchdown catch. He needed to be carted off the field, but MRI results show just an LCL strain in his left knee. He's expected to miss a few weeks.
The Titans open the regular season on Sept. 10 at New Orleans.
"I don't think it's going to be a long-term thing,'' Titans coach Mike Vrabel said. "There was no structural damage and we anticipate getting him back. We're not going to put any timeline on it, but I think this was the best-case scenario.''
Burks is expected to start at wide receiver alongside big free-agent signee DeAndre Hopkins, but now he will miss the final two preseason games — Saturday night at Minnesota and then next Friday at home against the New England Patriots.
It's unlikely that Burks would have played a lot in the preseason games anyway, since Vrabel doesn't put the starters out there much in the practice games. But he will miss valuable practice time the rest of the month.
At least it's nothing serious enough to force him out of a lot of the regular season. It seems like a September return is realistic.
It could have been so much worse
"I think he's relieved,'' Vrabel said. "When you have that type of thing and you feel something, you just feel relieved. We'll rehab him and I know he'll work hard to get back. And when he's ready to come back out, I know he'll help us.''
Burks had 33 catches for 444 yards last season, but he's had a great offseason and a big sophomore season was expected from the former Arkansas star. That will have to wait a bit now, but at least it's a season-long problem.
Related stories on Titans-Vikings practice
- LEVIS LEAVES PRACTICE EARLY: The Tennessee Titans dealt with more potential injury news on Thursday as rookie quarterback Will Levis exits practice early. His status is unknown for Saturday night's preseason game with the Minnesota Vikings. CLICK HERE
- BURKS GOES DOWN IN WEDNESDAY'S PRACTICE: Tennessee wide receiver Treylon Burks went down with a knee injury during practice, and teammates Ryan Tannehill and Kevin Byard talked about their fallen teammate. CLICK HERE
- RECEIVERS WHO NEED TO STEP UP: With Treylon Burks out for a while, there are several other wide. receivers that need to step up in his absence. CLICK HERE
- TOM BREW COLUMN: Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill is happy with how the offense got better throughout Wednesday's practice with the Vikings. He saw some good things, he said. CLICK HERE
