Will Noah Brown’s Return Impact Treylon Burks’ Usage?

Commanders wide receiver Noah Brown finally returned to action this past week against Minnesota after missing time with a groin/knee injury since Week 2. With Brown’s return, there are outside questions surrounding his future with Washington along with the emergence of former first-round pick Treylon Burks.

Burks returned two weeks ago against Denver after missing one game due to a finger injury which required surgery, and immediately made an impact with an unbelievable one-handed touchdown catch (with his recently injured finger) in the back of the end-zone.

Comparatively, Brown will be 30 years old at the start of next season, while Burks will be 26 next year. Both wideouts possess similar physical traits and align with the ideal number two wide receiver role. Also, both players are set to be free agents following this season, so it remains important to gain a closer look in preparation for the future.

Last season, Noah Brown was a major contributor on offense with the team making it to the NFC Championship game, and is most known for his role in the miracle ‘Hail Maryland’ play against Chicago where he caught the game-winning touchdown. One of Brown’s super powers last year was his supreme ability to draw penalties against coverage. Unfortunately for Brown, this season has been completely different for him along with the majority of the Commanders roster. 

This past Sunday against Minnesota, Brown was on the field for 32 snaps, while Burks played 19 snaps. Brown finished with one reception for 19 yards on two targets, and Burks finished with zero receptions on one target. The offense was abhorrent on Sunday and it’s a small sample size, but with just four games remaining on the schedule, one must wonder whether we see a flip or a closer snap ratio next week against the Giants. 

The case for Burks over Brown ultimately comes down to age, especially when you take into consideration how old the Commanders roster is compared to the rest of the NFL. Though the older formula worked in 2024, this season is proving it is not sustainable due to injuries and declining play, which is why evaluating the younger talent becomes crucial at a time like this.

Noah Brown should continue to see playing time as he returns from a lengthy injury, but Treylon Burks’ snaps should not be significantly hindered with consideration of where the team is at 3-10. Youth must be factored in at a higher rate down the stretch.