NASHVILLE – Treylon Burks used to admire DeAndre Hopkins from afar.
On Wednesday, when the Titans kicked off training camp, the two receivers went through drills side-by-side, and were overseen chatting during breaks in the action.
And it almost seemed too good to be true for Burks.
"Him being my teammate, our teammate, it's pretty cool," Burks said. "And then seeing him make the same plays you see on TV in practice, it just shows you that he is the real deal.
"It's just a blessing to be able to play with your idol, and to be able to learn some things here and there."
The Titans – Hopkins, Burks and everyone else – are just getting started.
It's a long road ahead until the regular season opener against the Saints on September 10, but the process is now under way.
In the last week, the Titans feel like they've gotten better as a team with the addition of Hopkins, who has earned five Pro Bowl selections (2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020) and produced four All-Pro seasons (first team 2017-19, second team 2020) during his career.
Burks, heading into his second NFL season, feels like Hopkins can make him – and the entire receiving corps – better as well.
"It's going real good," Burks said. "D-Hop is an amazing person, on and off the field. Just being with him the couple of days he's been here, it's been amazing. Just learning how he takes care of his business, and then he comes out here and practices. Seeing that is going to help me to get better.
"You're learning from one of the best. It is going to be fun."
A 10-year NFL veteran, Hopkins has totaled 853 receptions for 11,298 yards and 71 touchdowns in his time with Houston (2013-19) and Arizona (2020-22).
Burks, a first-round pick of the team in the 2022 NFL Draft, is still adjusting to the NFL. As a rookie, Burks caught 33 passes for 444 yards and a touchdown while playing in 11 games, with six starts.
Burks was sidelined during the midway portion of last season with a toe injury, and he battled through other ailments as well.
Burks said he busted his rear end to get better this offseason.
Hopkins said he's more than willing to help the team on the field, but he also wants to be a mentor for guys around him.
"I think if you guys go back and see how productive Will Fuller was when he came to Houston and other receivers as well," Hopkins said. "Arizona, I think the same for some of those young receivers who came there. I helped those guys out a lot and made their job easier.
"Me being who I am, and defenses focusing on me, I think that helps not just myself, but tight ends as well. So, Treylon (Burks) is a guy who has a lot of potential, and I think he's going to show that this year."
