Brian Burns Injury News & Updates

Burns recorded two total tackles in Sunday's 34-27 overtime loss to the Lions.

Burns finished with his least impressive statline of the campaign, failing to secure a solo tackle for the first time this season while his two stops marked a new low for the linebacker this year. Burns has been exceptional in his second season in New York, compiling 13.0 sacks, which is second only to Miles Garrett (18.0) through 12 weeks, and he'll look to get back on track against New England in Week 13.

Burns finished Sunday's Week 11 loss to Green Bay with five tackles (three solo), including 2.0 sacks, and a defensed pass.

Burns recorded both of New York's sacks in the contest, taking down Jordan Love just before halftime and again just before the end of the game. The veteran pass rusher is having a career-best season, tallying 13.0 sacks through 11 contests. Burns' sack total has exceeded his previous career-best regular-season mark (which had been 12.5), and he ranks second in the NFL in the category behind Myles Garrett (15.0).

Burns tallied five tackles (four solo) during the Giants' loss versus the Bears on Sunday.

Burns had a solid outing in the loss, but this was just the second game this season where he failed to record a sack. The 2019 first-round pick is now just 1.5 sacks shy of his career-high total set in 2022, and he will look to keep producing in the Week 11 matchup versus Green Bay.

Burns tallied four tackles (two solo), including 1.0 sacks, during the Giants' loss to the Eagles on Sunday.

Burns was dealing with a hip injury throughout the week but ended up having a strong outing nonetheless, as he managed to record his tenth sack of the season. The 27-year-old is already just 2.5 sacks short of his career-high total set back in 2022, and he will look to add to his totals during the Week 9 matchup versus the 49ers.

Burns (hip) is active for Sunday's game against the Eagles, Evan Barnes of Newsday reports.

Burns didn't practice Wednesday or Thursday but returned in a limited capacity Friday. Despite not logging a full practice and being labeled as questionable, Burns was always expected to suit up for the Week 8 divisional matchup against the defending champs. The veteran pass rusher leads the league with 9.0 sacks, and he racked up two of those, including a season-high seven tackles, during the Giants' Week 6 upset win over the Eagles on Thursday Night Football.

Burns (hip) is questionable for Sunday's game against the Eagles, Dan Salomone of the Giants' official site reports.

Burns didn't practice earlier in the week but remained expected to play against the Eagles, according to Evan Barnes of Newsday. Burns has been a menace off the edge for the Giants this season, posting 34 tackles (23 solo), including league-highs in TFLs (12) and sacks (9.0), along with four pass breakups and one forced fumble.

Burns (hip) did not practice Wednesday, but he is expected to play Sunday against the Eagles, Evan Barnes of Newsday reports.

Burns was originally reported to have suffered a foot injury and was spotted in a walking boot after Sunday's game against Denver. However, his injury was modified to a foot issue in Wednesday's practice report. Despite not practicing, Burns also told Barnes that he will be able to suit up for the Giants' Week 8 matchup against the Eagles.

Burns (foot) didn't practice Wednesday and is considered day-to-day, Evan Barnes of Newsday reports.

Burns was seen wearing a walking boot following the Giants' Week 7 loss to the Broncos, so being labeled as "day-to-day" is a relatively encouraging sign. The 2019 first-round pick from Florida State has been one of the league's best defensive players this season, recording 34 total tackles, including 9.0 sacks (tied for the NFL lead), four passes defended and one forced fumble through seven games. He likely needs to upgrade to at least limited practice Thursday or Friday to have a chance at playing in Sunday's matchup against the Eagles.

Burns was seen wearing a walking boot on his right foot in the locker room after Sunday's 33-32 loss to the Broncos, Connor Hughes of SNY.tv reports.

The pass rusher finished the game with four tackles, including 2.0 sacks and an additional tackle for a loss. Burns has played on most of the defensive snaps for New York this season, and he now has 9.0 sacks in seven games. The Giants are deep on the edge, with Abdul Carter and Kayvon Thibodeaux in addition to Burns, but the loss of the veteran would nonetheless impact the defense.

Burns recorded seven tackles (three solo) and two sacks in Thursday's 24-17 win over the Eagles.

Burns was chasing Jalen Hurts throughout the contest, as four of his tackles came against the quarterback. He recorded multiple sacks for the second time this season, bringing his total on the campaign to 7.0. Burns is having a far more productive second season with the Giants and is pacing toward a career-best year.

Burns finished Sunday's loss to the Saints with three tackles (two solo).

It was a pretty quiet day for Burns, though one of his tackles went for a loss. The veteran edge rusher didn't record a sack for the first time this season, but he's still off to a fast start with 5.0 sacks through five contests.

Burns logged five tackles (four solo), including 1.0 sacks, during the Giants' win over the Chargers on Sunday.

Burns continued his strong season Sunday, as he's now logged at least 1.0 sacks in each of the team's first four games. The 27-year-old is currently on pace to set new career high totals in both tackles and sacks. He will look to keep up this high level of production next week versus the Saints.

Burns notched six tackles (five solo), including 1.0 sacks, and added two defensed passes along with a forced fumble in Sunday's loss to the Chiefs.

Though the Giants fell to 0-3, Burns was a force to be reckoned with. He finished third on New York in tackles, with one of his stops being a takedown of Patrick Mahoes for a seven-yard loss in the second quarter. Mahomes fumbled on that play, and though Kansas City was able to recover, the drive ended in a punt two plays later. Burns is off to a blazing start to the campaign, tallying 4.0 sacks through three weeks after recording 8.5 sacks across 17 contests last year.

Burns registered six tackles (two solo), including 2.0 sacks, in Sunday's loss to the Commanders.

Burns picked up both of his sacks on one drive in the second quarter. He was pretty prolific outside of that series as well -- his six total stops were more than he tallied in all but three contests last year. Burns has been very consistent with between 7.5 sacks and 9.0 sacks in five of his six NFL regular seasons, with a career-best mark of 12.5 in 2022.

Burns tallied two tackles (one solo) in Saturday's preseason victory against the Jets.

After logging just five defensive snaps in the Giants' first exhibition contest, Burns saw the field more with 15 snaps Saturday. The veteran defender will again be a key component of New York's pass rush in 2025, though it will be interesting to see how the team balances playing time and adjusts sets in order to feature all three of its talented edge rushers -- Burns, Kayvon Thibodeaux and prized rookie Abdul Carter.

The Giants converted $10 million of Burns' base salary into a signing bonus Thursday, Field Yates of ESPN reports.

According to Yates, the Giants signed 2025 third-overall pick Abdul Carter on Thursday and converted part of Burns' salary into a signing bonus to stay under the salary cap. The 2019 first-round pick made an impact in his first year with the Giants, recording 71 total tackles, including 8.5 sacks, and eight passes defended over 17 regular-season contests. He's now expected to be apart of one of the NFL's top pass-rush duos in 2025, starting opposite Carter.

Burns tallied 71 tackles, including 8.5 sacks, along with eight defensed passes and two forced fumbles over 17 regular-season games with the Giants in 2024.

The Giants made a big splash when they traded for Burns in March and subsequently signed him to a five-year, $141 million contract. Though the team struggled to a 3-14 record, Burns proved to be a valuable addition, starting in all 17 of New York's contests and finishing second on the team with 8.5 sacks. The Florida State product also finished second on the Giants with eight pass defenses, which doubled the previous career-high total he established in both 2020 and 2021. Finally, Burns recorded a career-best 71 stops, buoying his IDP value in games when he wasn't able to take down the opposing quarterback. With four years left on his deal, Burns should remain a key part of New York's pass rush for the foreseeable future.

Burns (illness) has no injury designation ahead of Sunday's matchup against the Eagles, Dan Salomone of the Giants' official site reports.

Burns appeared to be in jeopardy of missing the Giants' regular-season finale after opening the week of practice with consecutive limited sessions due to an illness. However, he returned to full practice Friday, suggesting he's moved past the issue in time to play Sunday. With Burns back at full health, he's expected to serve as one of the Giants' top edge rushers in the Week 18 divisional matchup.

Burns (illness) remained limited in Thursday's practice.

Burns has yet to miss a game this season, his first with the Giants. Through 16 games, Burns has logged 66 tackles (40 solo), including 17 TFLs and 8.0 sacks, 16 QB hits, eight pass breakups and a pair of forced fumbles.

Burns tallied six tackles (four solo) during the Giants' 45-33 win over the Colts on Sunday.

Burns had failed to log at least five combined tackles in the five games prior to Sunday's contest, but he managed to reach that mark in what was a high-scoring affair. He's now up to a career-high 66 tackles (40 solo), including 8.0 sacks, eight pass defenses and two forced fumbles through 16 regular-season games. The 2019 first-round pick will look to finish his first year with the Giants strong in the regular-season finale against the Eagles next Sunday.

Burns (ankle) is not among New York's inactives for Sunday's Week 16 matchup against Atlanta, Dan Salomone of the Giants' official site reports.

Burns dealt with an ankle injury throughout the week, but head coach Brian Daboll indicated Thursday that he expected the veteran pass rusher to be able to play against the Falcons. That will indeed come to fruition with Burns active for Sunday's game. He'll look to pick up a sack for the third straight game against Atlanta rookie QB Michael Penix, who will be making his first NFL start.

Burns (ankle) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Falcons, Adam Caplan of SiriusXM NFL Radio reports.

Burns was DNP on Wednesday and Thursday but upgraded to a limited practice Friday. Coach Brian Daboll said Thursday that he expected Burns to play against Atlanta, Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com reported. Burns has started all 14 games this season, recording 58 tackles (34 solo), including 8.0 sacks, eight batted passes and two forced fumbles. Burns' eight batted passes are a new career-high, and he needs 4.5 more sacks to match his single-season best of 12.5 from 2022.

Giants head coach Brian Daboll said Thursday that Burns (ankle) will not practice but is expected to be available for Sunday's road matchup against the Falcons, Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com reports.

Burns is considered day-to-day, but it sounds like the standout pass rusher's ankle injury is something he'll be able to play through versus Atlanta and rookie quarterback Michael Penix, who will be drawing his first start. His final chance to practice prior to Week 16 action will come Friday.

Coach Brian Daboll said Wednesday that Burns is day-to-day with an ankle injury, Dan Salomone of the Giants' official site reports.

Burns came up with a sack during Sunday's game versus the Ravens, but he apparently also came away with an ankle injury, and now his status for Week 16 is uncertain. He'll probably have to participate at practice Thursday or Friday to have any chance to play Sunday versus the Cardinals.

Burns finished with two tackles, including 1.0 sacks, in a 35-14 Week 15 loss to Baltimore on Sunday.

Burns brought down Lamar Jackson for a 10-yard loss in the first quarter, though Jackson responded with a touchdown pass to Mark Andrews on the next play. The sack was Burns' second in as many contests and brought his total to 8.0 this season. With three games left in the season for New York, Burns has a shot of reaching double-digit sacks for the second time in his six-year career.

Burns posted four tackles (two solo), including 1.0 sacks, and forced a fumble Sunday in a loss to New Orleans.

Burns got to New Orleans QB Derek Carr (hand/head) late in the second quarter, sacking the signal-caller and forcing a fumble, though the ball was recovered by the Saints. The takedown brought Burns to 7.0 sacks through 13 games, leaving him one sack shy of the 8.0 he totaled over 16 regular-season games with the Panthers last year. Burns also has 56 total tackles in his first year with New York, and he's within reach of the career-best mark of 63 he established in 2022.

Burns recorded nine tackles (four solo) including 1.0 sacks during Sunday's 20-17 loss against the Panthers.

Burns' nine tackles against his former team was a season-high for him, and his sack was his sixth in his last eight games. He's on pace for the second double-digit sack season of his career, and his next chance to build on his year-long total will come in Week 12 versus the Buccaneers.

Burns recorded four tackles (one solo) and a pass deflection during the Giants' loss to Washington on Sunday.

Burns had a solid outing despite the loss and has now logged at least four tackles in four straight games. The 2019 first-round pick will look to keep producing during the team's Week 10 matchup versus the Panthers.

The Giants announced Saturday that Burns (groin/Achilles) does not carry an injury designation for Monday's road game against the Steelers, Ralph Vacchiano of Fox Sports reports.

Burns missed practice Friday and seemed initially to be trending in the wrong direction for Week 8, but New York may merely have been capping his practice reps. The standout defensive end has tallied one sack in each of his last three games, and he'll look to keep up his momentum versus Russell Wilson and the Pittsburgh offense on Monday.

Burns (groin/Achilles) didn't practice Friday, Dan Salomone of the Giants' official site reports.

Burns appears to be trending in the wrong direction ahead of Monday night's matchup against the Steelers, as he downgraded from limited work Thursday to a DNP on Friday. The first-year Giant will likely need to upgrade to at least limited participation in Saturday's practice to have a chance at suiting up in Week 8.

Burns (groin/Achilles) was a limited practice participant Thursday, Dan Salomone of the Giants' official site reports.

Burns has been playing through a groin injury for most of the regular season, so his presence on the Giants' first injury report of the week isn't surprising. However, it appears he may have tweaked his Achilles during the Giants' Week 7 loss to the Eagles, so his practice participation over the next two days is worth monitoring. Through the first seven games of the regular season, Burns has logged 27 tackles (18 solo), including 4.0 sacks, six pass breakups and one forced fumble.

Burns registered four tackles (three solo), including 1.0 sack, in the Giants' loss versus Philadelphia on Sunday.

Burns was one of four New York defenders to bring down Jalen Hurts for a sack during Sunday's blowout loss. The 2019 first-round pick has now recorded a sack in three of his past four games played.

Burns (groin) is active for Sunday's game against the Eagles, Dan Salomone of the Giants' official site reports.

Despite opening the week with back-to-back DNPs, Burns earned a questionable tag after logging a limited practice session Friday. It was enough for him to be able to play Sunday, though he's unlikely to be at 100 percent health. Burns has had a strong start to his tenure with the Giants, having registered 23 tackles (15 solo), including 3.0 sacks, five pass breakups and one forced fumble through the first six games of the regular season.

Burns (groin) is listed as questionable ahead of Sunday's matchup against the Eagles, Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News reports.

Burns upgraded to a limited session Friday after beginning the Giants' week of practice with consecutive DNPs, so it appears he's trending towards playing in Week 7. Nonetheless, if the first-year Giant can't suit up for Sunday's divisional matchup, expect Boogie Basham and Patrick Johnson to see additional reps with New York's first-team defense.

Burns (groin) did not practice Thursday, Charlotte Carroll of The Athletic reports.

Burns has opened the week with back-to-back DNPs due to a groin injury. The 2019 first-round pick said he expects to play Sunday against the Eagles, but that optimism could fade if he's unable to practice in at least a limited capacity Friday. Through the first six games of the regular season, Burns has registered 23 tackles (15 solo), including 3.0 sacks, five pass breakups and one forced fumble.

Burns (groin) didn't practice Wednesday, Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com reports.

Raanan also reported that Burns said he's "good," and there's no doubt that he'll suit up for the Giants' Week 7 matchup against the Eagles. Burns has impressed thus far, recording 23 total tackles, including 3.0 sacks, and defending five passes through the Giants' first six games. Expect the first-year Giant to continue playing through this groin issue unless he logs another DNP either Thursday or Friday.

Burns recorded eight tackles (four solo), including 1.0 sacks, in a Week 6 loss to the Bengals on Sunday.

Burns dealt with a groin injury during the week but was able to suit up for the Week 6 contest. His eight tackles were a season high, and he picked up a sack of Joe Burrow on the Bengals' first drive of the game. In his first campaign with New York, Burns has 23 tackles (15 solo), including 3.0 sacks, along with five defensed passes and a forced fumble through six games.

Burns (groin) has no injury designation ahead of Sunday's matchup against the Bengals, Dan Salomone of the Giants' official site reports.

The 26-year-old was able to log a week of limited practice sessions and will continue to play through his groin issue in Week 6. Burns has recorded 15 total tackles, including 2.0 sacks, and defended five passes across New York's first five contests this season. The first-year Giant will be without his co-star in Kayvon Thibodeaux on Sunday, so Burns will likely start opposite Azeez Ojulari.

Burns (groin) was a limited participant in Wednesday's practice, Dan Salomone of the Giants' official site reports.

Burnes played through a groin issue and logged two total tackles, including 1.0 sacks, and defended two passes across 47 defensive snaps in the Giants' Week 5 win over the Seahawks. It appears likely that the Giants are being cautious with their Pro Bowl edge rusher's groin issue. His participation Thursday and Friday will provide a better indication of his availability in Week 6, when the Giants host the Bengals.

Burns (groin) doesn't carry an injury designation into Sunday's game against the Seahawks and is expected to play, Dan Salomone of the Giants' official site reports.

Burns was limited in practice Wednesday and Thursday but is good to go for Sunday's road affair. Through four games with his new team, Burns has recorded 13 tackles (10 solo), including just 1.0 sacks, three QB hits, three pass breakups and one fumble recovery.

Burns (groin) was a limited participant during practice Thursday, Dan Salomone of the Giants' official site reports.

Burns handled his typical workload in last Thursday's loss to the Cowboys, so it's not exactly clear when he suffered the injury unless it happened during practice. The veteran pass rusher will try and ramp up his activity Friday, in the team's final practice before heading to Seattle for a Week 5 matchup Sunday.

Burns tallied three tackles (two solo), including a sack, and added added two defensed passes along with a forced fumble in Sunday's 21-15 win against the Browns.

Burns' second-quarter sack was his first since joining New York in the offseason. The play resulted in a Deshaun Watson fumble that was recovered by the Giants. Through three contests, Burns has racked up 10 tackles (eight solo) and three defensed passes.

Burns (groin) is active Week 3 against the Browns, Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com reports.

Burns was a late addition to the injury report this week, but he was able to get through pregame warmups without issue and ultimately gain clearance to suit up. Through two games this year, Burns has tallied a total of seven tackles while serving as a starting outside linebacker.

Burns (groin) is expected to suit up against Cleveland on Sunday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Burns popped up on Friday's injury report with a groin issue after logging a limited practice session that day. He was deemed questionable heading into the weekend but appears set to play against the Browns on Sunday. Burns will look to get after Cleveland quarterback Deshaun Watson as he seeks his first sack as a member of the Giants.

Burns was added to the injury report Friday due to a groin injury and is questionable for Sunday's game against the Browns, Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News reports.

Late-week additions are rarely a good sign, but perhaps Burns has avoided anything serious and will be able to play in 48 hours. Burns is still looking for his first sack as a member of the Giants after being acquired from Carolina over the offseason. Kayvon Thibodeaux and Azeez Ojulari will have to pick up the slack off the edge for the G-Men if Burns is unable to play. Benton Whitley would be next up for edge reps.

Burns (ankle) logged one tackle (one solo) during the Giants' preseason game versus the Texans on Saturday.

Burns was previously dealing with an ankle injury but managed to return to the field Saturday. Barring any setbacks, the 2019 first-round pick should be good to go for the start of the regular season in a few weeks.

Burns sustained an ankle injury during practice Monday, John Fennelly of USAToday.com reports.

Head coach Brian Daboll told reporters following Tuesday's practice that Burns' ankle injury was "nothing bad." That's good news for Burns, who was acquired by the Giants in a trade with the Panthers in March and signed a five-year, $150 million contract. The 2019 first-round pick out of Florida State is set to lead a Giants defense headlined by nose tackle Dexter Lawrence and linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux.

Burns sustained an ankle injury during practice Monday, John Fennelly of USAToday.com reports.

Head coach Brian Daboll told reporters following Tuesday's practice that Burns' ankle injury was "nothing bad." That's good news for Burns, who was acquired by the Giants in a trade with the Panthers in March and signed a five-year, $150 million contract. The 2019 first-round pick out of Florida State is set to lead a Giants defense headlined by nose tackle Dexter Lawrence and linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux.

The Giants are acquiring Burns in a trade with the Panthers and signing him to a five-year contract, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

The initial report has it as a $150 million contract, with the Giants sending second-and fifth-round picks to Carolina for the right to make Burns one of the highest-paid non-QBs in league history. The 2019 first-round pick has been both durable and consistent, recording at least 7.5 sacks every season while missing just three games. He's never had the kind of dominant campaign that other defenders with similar contracts have all produced, but it's possible that lies ahead with Burns heading into his age-26 campaign. It's also possible the contract numbers initially reported are inflated with incentives or other money that's unlikely to actually end up in his pocket. Either way, the Giants now have the fastest pair of edge rushers in the league with Burns (4.53 40) joining 2022 fifth overall pick Kayvon Thibodeaux (4.58), who had 11.5 sacks in 2023.

The Panthers gave Burns a franchise tag Tuesday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

The tag is for $24 million and likely will serve as a bridge to either a new contract or a trade. Burns has recorded at least 7.5 sacks each year since the Panthers drafted him 16th overall in 2019, and he's missed only three games in five pro seasons.

Burns finished the regular season with 50 tackles (32 solo), including eight sacks, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery in 16 games.

Burns has now notched at least 7.5 sacks in each of his five NFL seasons, leading the Panthers in the category in consecutive campaigns. However, with Burns slated to be an unrestricted free agent this offseason, it remains to be seen whether he'll return to Carolina or sign a lucrative long-term deal elsewhere.

Burns finished Sunday's 26-0 loss to the Jaguars with eight tackles (five solo), including one sack.

Burns got to C.J. Beathard for a seven-yard loss that forced the Jaguars to kick a field goal on their first possession of the game. Burns played 53 snaps on defense Sunday -- the second straight week he's played at least 50 snaps. He's up to 48 tackles (30 solo), including 7.0 sacks, one forced fumble and a fumble recovery over 15 games this season.

Burns (illness) doesn't have an injury designation for Sunday's game against the Packers.

Burns missed practice Wednesday and Thursday, but he returned to full participation Friday. He'll be available Sunday and will look to add to his season total of 6.0 sacks. Burns hasn't finished with fewer than 7.5 sacks in any of his previous four NFL seasons.

Burns' not participating at practice Wednesday was because of an illness.

Burns could still be dealing with some ankle soreness, but his listing on Carolina's injury report Wednesday wasn't related to his ankle issue. Either way, he'll probably need to practice in full Thursday or Friday to avoid carrying an injury designation into the weekend.

Burns (ankle) did not practice Wednesday, Joe Person of The Athletic reports.

Burns missed practice last Wednesday too, due to an ankle injury, before ultimately ramping up his activity level Thursday, and then playing in Sunday's win over the Falcons. The Flordia State products practice status in the next two days will likely be worth monitoring to see if Week 16 prep follows a similar arch for Burns as it did in Week 15.

Burns (ankle) is active for Sunday's game against the Falcons, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.

Burns was able to log back-to-back limited practice sessions to end the week and is good to go for Sunday's NFC South clash. He's registered 34 tackles (22 solo), including 6.0 sacks, and a forced fumble across 12 games this season.

Coach Chris Tabor said that he expects Burns (ankle) to play Sunday versus the Falcons, David Newton of ESPN.com reports.

Burns is officially listed as questionable after being a limited participant at practice Friday, but he's apparently on the 'probable' end of that designation. Atlanta has been a run-heavy team so far this season, so pass-rushing opportunities could be at a premium in Week 15.

Burns (ankle) logged a limited practice Thursday.

It's an upgrade for Burns after he missed Wednesday's session. Burns' ankle issues date back to the beginning of the season, and he's also missed reps with an elbow injury and concussion, which has cost him one game this year. Burns has six sacks through 12 games.

Burns (ankle) did not practice Wednesday.

Burns is still expected to be available for Sunday's game against the Falcons, and is "just a little sore," according to head coach Chris Tabor, Joe Person of The Athletic reports. However, the Flordia State products participation level Thursday and Friday may still be worth monitoring ahead of their Week 15 matchup.

Burns finished with four tackles (two solo), including a sack, in Sunday's Week 12 loss to Tennessee.

Burns' four stops tied his second-highest tally of the season, and his first-quarter sack of Will Levis was his first in three games. The fifth-year veteran has seen his numbers drop a bit with 6.0 sacks and 32 total tackles through 10 games after he posted career-high marks with 12.5 sacks and 63 total stops over 16 contests last year. Nonetheless, Burns is the only Panther with more than 3.5 sacks on the campaign, and he also leads the team with 11 tackles for loss.

Defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero told reporters Thursday that Burns has cleared concussion protocol and will play Sunday against the Cowboys, Joe Person of The Athletic reports.

Carolina will get its star edge rusher back this Sunday after he missed the team's Week 10 loss to the Bears with a concussion. The two-time Pro Bowler has been productive in spite of the Panthers' 1-9 record, as he's logged 25 total tackles, including nine tackles for loss and five sacks in eight appearances thus far.

Burns (concussion) was a full participant during practice Wednesday.

Burns appears to be nearing the completion of the league's five-step concussion protocols after being able to log a full practice. Assuming he suffers no setbacks, he'll likely gain clearance in time for Sunday's game against the Cowboys. However, he should still be considered questionable for the matchup at this stage of the week.

Burns (concussion) has been ruled out for Thursday's game against the Bears.

Burns suffered a concussion during Sunday's loss to the Colts, and considering the short week, he has been unable to clear the league's five-step protocols to gain clearance to compete. Amare Barno will likely see extra snaps in his absence, while a practice squad elevation or two are likely on the way, as the Panthers currently only have five healthy linebackers on the active roster.

Head Coach Frank Reich inidcated Monday that Burns (concussion) will have a tough time clearing protocols for Thursday's matchup with the Bears, David Newton of ESPN.com reports.

Burns was a non-participant at Monday's walk-through after being diagnosed with a concussion in the fourth quarter of Sunday's 27-13 loss to the Colts. He had accumulated four tackles (two solo) on 42 defensive snaps (74 percent) prior to exiting the contest. If he is indeed unable to play, Luiji Vilain (knee) and Eku Leota are candidates to fill in at weakside linebacker opposite DJ Johnson.

Burns was diagnosed with a concussion during Sunday's contest against the Colts, Mike Kaye of The Charlotte Observer reports.

At the point of his departure in the fourth quarter, Burns had four tackles, including one for loss. Now that he's in the protocol for head injuries, he likely will have tough time clearing all five of its phases in time to suit up Thursday at Chicago.

Burns (elbow) was a full participant in Friday's practice.

Burns was able to fully participate in Friday's practice after logging limited sessions both Wednesday and Thursday, and it now seems as if he's moved past his elbow issue. Carolina's star edge rusher has recorded five sacks through seven games this year, and he'll look to add to that total this Sunday against the Colts.

Burns (elbow) was a limited participant at practice Wednesday, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.

Burns played through the elbow issue Sunday versus Houston, so it's unlikely it will keep him out in Week 9. Either way, he could still carry an injury designation into the weekend unless he's able to practice in full Thursday or Friday.

Burns had one sack in Sunday's 15-13 win over the Texans.

Burns sack on C.J. Stroud in the second quarter was his lone tackle on the day despite being on the field for 84 percent of the defensive snaps. His five sacks on the year leads the team, though he has just 21 tackles in seven games which behind the pace to reach his mark of 63 last season. Burns has played on at least 46 defensive snaps in all but one game this year.

Burns (elbow) is active for Sunday's matchup against the Texans, Darin Gantt of the Panthers official site reports.

As expected, Burns will suit up despite suffering an elbow injury during Thursday's practice. Per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, Burns is not 100 percent, but his presence should still be a major boost for Carolina's defense. Across six games, the 2019 first-round pick has recorded 13 tackles, four sacks and a forced fumble.

Burns, who's listed as questionable with an elbow injury, is likely to play Sunday versus Houston, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Burns suffered the injury during Thursday's practice and isn't 100 percent, but it looks like he's going to be active. Across six games this season, the 2019 first-round pick has 13 tackles, four sacks and a forced fumble.

Burns (elbow) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Texans, Joe Person of The Athletic reports.

Burns appears to have suffered the elbow injury during practice this week, as he initially emerged from Carolina's Week 7 bye without limitations. If the linebacker is unable to suit up Sunday, Carolina's pass rush would be significantly weakened, as Burns leads the team with four sacks through six games after notching 12.5 sacks last season.

Burns (elbow) was limited in Thursday's practice, Darin Gnatt of the Panthers' official site reports.

Carolina's star edge rusher wasn't on Wednesday's injury report, but he now seems to be dealing with some type of elbow issue. It's unclear when Burns suffered this elbow injury, and he could very well carry an injury designation into the weekend after a limited practice session Thursday. The 25-year-old has appeared in all six of the Panthers' games this season, recording 20 total tackles, seven tackles for loss and four sacks.

Burns (ankle) is active for Sunday's game against Miami.

Carolina's defense will be under a lot of pressure against the elite Miami offense, though having Burns will certainly help. He has four sacks across five games this season, and he should be able to play his regular role after logging a full practice session Friday.

Burns (ankle), who is officially listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Dolphins, is expected to take the field, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Burns is currently on pace to surpass the career-best 12.5 sack mark he accomplished last season, having already brought down opposing quarterbacks four times through five appearances this year. His status will for Week 6 will be made official roughly 90 minutes prior to Sunday's 1:00 p.m. ET kickoff time.

Burns (ankle) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game at Miami.

Burns was a full participant at practice Friday, a good sign he should be able to play in Week 6. He has four sacks through five games in 2023, putting him on pace for a career year in that stat column.

Burns tallied four tackles (three solo), including a sack, in a loss to the Lions in Week 5.

Burns recorded two quarterback hits in addition to his sack. The star pass rusher has recorded at least one sack in three of the Panthers' first five contests, and he's up to four total sacks on the campaign. That puts him on pace to challenge the career-best mark of 12.5 he posted last season.

Burns recorded four tackles (three solo) and one sack in Sunday's 37-27 loss to the Seahawks.

Burns' sack was his third in as many games this season. He also saw a relatively limited workload with 48 defensive snaps (68 percent), which was presumably the result of an ankle injury from the week prior. The linebacker's next contest is against the Vikings in Week 4.

Burns (ankle) doesn't have an injury designation ahead of Sunday's Week 3 game against the Seahawks, Mike Kaye of The Charlotte Observer reports.

Burns was limited in practice this week but is good to go against a Seattle offensive line missing both starting tackles. Burns is off to a hot start in 2023, recording nine tackles, two sacks and one forced fumble in two games against the Falcons and Saints.

Burns (ankle) was a limited participant in Wednesday's practice.

Burns appears to have sustained an ankle injury during Monday's loss to the Saints, in which he quietly recorded two solo tackles. It's a good sign that he was limited in Wednesday's walkthrough, though. Barring any setbacks, Burns seems to have solid odds of being cleared to suit up for Sunday's road matchup in Seattle.

Burns recorded seven tackles (four solo, one for a loss), 1.5 sacks and a forced fumble in Sunday's 24-10 loss to the Falcons.

Burns forced a fumble while sacking Falcons quarterback Desmond Ridder on the first drive of the day and combined with Frankie Luvu to sack Ridder on the next drive. Burns held out of practice leading up to Week 1 to gain leverage for a contract extension but returned to work Wednesday. His presence is desperately needed as he recorded 12.5 of Carolina's 35 sacks in 2022. Burns and the Panthers will look to bounce back in Week 2 as they take on the Saints in their home opener.

Burns will play in Week 1 despite his unhappiness with his contract, Jay Glazer reported on the Fox Sunday morning pregame show.

Burns raised some concerns about a 'hold-in' when he sat out Monday's practice, but unlike the Chiefs' Chris Jones, this contract situation won't keep him out of the game this week.

Burns (personal) is trending toward playing in Sunday's game against the Falcons, Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network reports.

Burns remains in a contract dispute with the Panthers but returned to practice this week and appears willing to play despite no new deal. Coach Frank Reich said there's "no update" on Burns, but he "looked good" in practice. Carolina's defense desperately needs its best pass rusher to be out there.

Burnes was absent from the Panthers' injury report Wednesday ahead of Sunday's game at Atlanta.

Though he had been sitting out of practice up until as recently as earlier this week, Burns looks like a go for Week 1 at the Falcons. One of the league's premier edge rushers figures as both a huge boost to his real-life team and a fantasy option at IDP.

Burns (personal) went to practice with his teammates in full pads Wednesday ahead of Sunday's game at Atlanta, David Newton of ESPN.com reports.

Burns had been holding himself out of practice, apparently angling for leverage in negotiations for a new contract, but it now looks like he'll be returning. Whether this is because he and the team worked out a deal or because he had some change of heart is still unclear at this point.

Burns is not practicing Monday for personal reasons, David Newton of ESPN.com reports.

Burns' decision to sit out practices appears to be contract related, though coach Frank Reich said he isn't sure whether the standout pass rusher intends to hold out until he has a new deal, per Steve Reed of the Associated Press. With Marquis Haynes (back) having landed on IR, the Panthers defensive front could be significantly depleted during Sunday's regular-season opener in Atlanta if Burns isn't back on the field by then.

Burns (ankle) practiced on the first day of training camp Wednesday, Alex Zietlow of the Charlotte Observer reports.

Burns was limited to drills during June minicamp, but he showed that he's healthy by participating in practice as the Panthers kicked off training camp. The productive pass rusher isn't letting ongoing extension talks distract him, but Burns is still hoping to land a multi-year deal with the Panthers rather than play out 2023 on his fifth-year option after racking up 38 sacks over his first four seasons.

Burns (ankle) didn't practice at June minicamp but was on the field helping teammates with drills, Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network reports.

Burns was moving around comfortably without a limp and should be back at full strength for the start of training camp in late July. He had surgery in mid-April to repair a small fracture in his right ankle, after missing Week 18 last season due to discomfort in the area. Burns is scheduled to play out 2023 under the fifth-year option of his rookie contract, though he may sign an extension before Week 1 and become one of the best-paid non-QBs in the league. The 25-year-old has tallied at least 7.5 sacks and 16 QB hits in each of his four pro seasons, including career highs of 12.5 and 22, respectively, last year.

Burns (ankle) was present Monday but didn't participate in the first day of Carolina's OTAs, Mike Kaye of the Charlotte Observer reports.

This isn't surprising, as Burns underwent surgery in mid-April to repair a small fracture in his right ankle. The 2019 first-round pick sat out Week 18 last season with what was labeled as a sprained ankle, but he was able to participate in the Pro Bowl Games a few weeks later. Burns then reported discomfort at the start of Carolina's offseason program and underwent further testing which revealed the fracture. The extent of his rehab process remains unclear, but he could miss the entire offseason.

Burns underwent surgery to repair a small fracture in his right ankle last Wednesday, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.

Burns sat out Week 18 of last season with what was called a sprained ankle at the time. While he was able to participate in the Pro Bowl Games in early February, he reported discomfort in his ankle in the early stages of the offseason program. After undergoing tests, the fracture was revealed, and a procedure was performed by Dr. Robert Anderson. Burns is coming off three straight campaigns with at least nine sacks, including 12.5 in 16 contests in 2022.

Burns (ankle) is inactive Sunday versus the Saints.

After logging a full practice Thursday, Burns didn't participate at Friday's practice session and will sit out the season finale. Marquis Haynes Sr. and Bravvion Roy are expected to start on the defensive line as a result.

Burns (ankle) is considered a game-time decision to play Sunday versus the Saints, Joe Person of The Athletic reports.

After logging a full practice Thursday, Burns did not participate at Friday's practice session, placing some uncertainty on his status to play Sunday with head coach Steve Wilks calling him a game-time decision. The 24-year-old is dealing with an ankle issue and if he can't go, Marquis Haynes could draw a start on the defensive line in Carolina's season finale against New Orleans.

Burns finished with two sacks in Week 16's 37-23 win over the Lions.

Burns' sacks were his only tackles, but he also registered another quarterback hit and defended a pass. Fresh off being named to his second straight Pro Bowl, Burns is enjoying the best campaign of his four-year career, boasting 60 tackles (32 solo) and 12.5 sacks with two games remaining.

Burns (knee) logged a full practice Thursday, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.

Burns opened Week 14 prep as a limited participant Wednesday. The 24-year-old appeared to be healthy going into the team's Week 13 bye, so it's unclear where the injury may have come from. He should play a prominent role Sunday against the Seahawks, as he looks to build on his career-best 10 sacks already recorded this season.

Burns (knee) was limited in Wednesday's practice, per the team's official site.

Coming off the Panthers' Week 13 bye, Burns opened Wednesday's session in limited fashion while tending to a knee issue. With that said, the 24-year-old logged 55 out of a possible 60 defensive snaps en route to collecting two sacks, a pass deflection and one forced fumble during the team's win over the Broncos on Nov. 27. It would be surprising if Burns were to be eventually ruled out this weekend against the Seahawks, but his activity in practice throughout the week should be something worth monitoring nonetheless.

Burns finished with three tackles, two sacks, a forced fumble and a pass breakup in Sunday's 23-10 win over the Broncos.

Burns strip-sacked opposing quarterback Russell Wilson in the second quarter, preventing a red-zone opportunity for Denver. Heading into Carolina's bye week, Burns already sports a career-best 10 sacks to go with 53 tackles (28 solo) in 12 appearances.

Burns recorded five tackles (two solo), including one sack, during Sunday's 13-3 defeat versus the Ravens.

Burns brought down quarterback Lamar Jackson for a seven-yard loss in the third quarter, increasing his sack total to eight through 11 games this season. The defensive end logged a career-high nine sacks in each of the past two seasons, though he did so while playing 15 and 17 games, respectively. Burns should have a good chance to continue adding to this career-best start next week against Denver.

Burns finished with seven tackles (two solo) and a sack in Thursday's 25-15 win over the Falcons.

Burns now sports 45 tackles and seven sacks through 10 games. After posting nine sacks in both of the past two seasons, Burns is on pace to comfortably set a new career high in the category this term.

Burns recorded seven tackles (three solo) and two quarterback hits during Sunday's 37-34 loss to the Panthers.

Burns totaled seven stops for the second time this season while playing a season-high 65 defensive snaps against Atlanta. While the star pass rusher failed to record a sack, he still affected the passing game with multiple QB hits on Marcus Mariota. Burns' next game will come against a Bengals offensive line that has allowed 30 sacks this season.

Burns finished with five tackles (three solo) and a sack in Sunday's 21-3 win over the Buccaneers.

Burns now sports five sacks on the season, putting him just two off the NFL lead in the category. He'll next face a Falcons team that has allowed 10 sacks over its last three games.

Burns finished with two tackles and a sack in Sunday's 37-15 loss to the 49ers.

Burns also defended a pass. His quarterback takedown brought his season tally to four sacks through five games.

Burns finished with seven tackles (four solo) and a sack in Sunday's 26-16 loss to the Cardinals.

Burns was a disruptive presence, registering three tackles for loss. Through four games, he now sports 19 stops and three sacks, leading the Panthers in the latter category.

Burns finished with four tackles (all solo) and two sacks in Sunday's 19-16 loss to the Giants.

Burns wreaked havoc Sunday, registering four total quarterback hits while notching a pair of sacks. He'll push for a similar performance in Week 3 versus the Saints, against whom he's recorded four sacks in five career meetings.

Burns finished with eight tackles (five solo) in Sunday's 26-24 loss to the Browns.

Burns placed second on Carolina in stops, but his day was marred by a questionable roughing-the-passer penalty that set up Cleveland's game-winning field goal. He'll hope to get his first sack and victory of the season in Week 2 versus the Giants.

Burns played three defensive snaps in Saturday's 23-21 preseason win over the Commanders.

Burns got his feet wet with a brief cameo to kick off the preseason. Coming off back-to-back nine-sack campaigns, Burns will likely ramp up his activity level prior to Week 1.

Burns has not been at OTAs, but he's expected to be at minicamp, Joe Person of The Athletic repots.

The Panthers recently exercised the fifth-year option on Burns' rookie contract and are expected to negotiate a possible extension with the pass rusher during the season. The 2019 No. 16 overall pick has 25.5 sacks and six forced fumbles through his first three seasons in the NFL.

Panthers general manager Scott Fitterer said Friday that the Panthers will pick up the fifth-year option on Burns' rookie contract, Joe Person of The Athletic reports.

Fitterer added that Burns is the kind of player -- like DJ Moore and Donte Jackson -- that the Panthers want to build around, and by locking him down through the 2022-23 campaign, that's exactly what they plan to do. This move is a no-brainer, as the 2019 No. 16 overall pick has 25.5 sacks and six forced fumbles through his first three seasons in the NFL.

Burns didn't make a tackle in Sunday's 41-17 loss to the Buccaneers.

Burns played over 75 percent of Carolina's defensive snaps but was blanked in the tackle column. Although it was an anticlimactic end to his campaign, Burns nonetheless enjoyed another impressive season, finishing with 50 tackles, nine sacks and two fumbles forced while playing all 17 games. That production helped earn him his first Pro-Bowl selection, and with 25.5 sacks over his first three years in the league, the 23-year-old could aim for a lucrative extension prior to 2022. Whether that transpires or not, Burns is an ascending talent and should be a key figure in the Panthers' defensive plans going forward.

Burns (illness) was activated off the reserve/COVID-19 list Saturday.

This news was already reported earlier in the day, but the team officially gave confirmation later. The Pro Bowl pass rusher is on pace to achieve both career highs in tackles and sacks in what has been a breakout 2021 campaign.

Burns (illness) is in line to come off the reserve/COVID-19 list ahead of Sunday's game against the Saints, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport .

Per the report, the same applies to linebacker Shaq Thompson, with transactions confirming these expected outcomes on track to arrive prior to Saturday's deadline for such moves.

Burns (illness) was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list Monday, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.

Burns missing any time would be a huge blow to the Panthers' defense. The Pro-Bowl defensive end has been a force with nine sacks and two forced fumbles on the season. With six days until their Week 17 contest with the Saints, Burns does have enough time to clear protocols and suit up.

Burns finished with two tackles and a sack in Sunday's 31-14 loss to the Bills.

Burns has been on a tear lately, racking up six sacks over his last seven outings. His latest quarterback takedown matched his previous career high of nine in a season, so Burns will strive to set a new best by adding to his tally over Carolina's last three games.

Burns finished with six tackles (four solo), a sack and a forced fumble in Sunday's 33-10 loss to the Dolphins.

Burns stripped opposing quarterback Tua Tagovailoa while making a sack on the opening drive of the game. Although the Panthers didn't recover, the play gave Burns his eighth sack of the campaign. Impressively, he's also managed at least a half sack in five straight games as Carolina now enters its bye week.

Burns finished with two tackles (one solo) and a sack in Sunday's 27-21 loss to Washington.

Burns has now registered at least a partial sack in four consecutive games. That streak has helped bring his season tally to seven in 11 appearances. In doing so, he's formed an awesome duo with Haason Reddick, who ranks third league-wide in the category.

Burns (ankle) is active for Sunday's game against the Cardinals, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.

Burns was a full participant during Friday's practice and will be able to suit up against Arizona. He's totaled 19 tackles (12 solo), three sacks, a forced fumble and a pass defense across the last four games.

Burns (ankle) is questionable for Sunday's matchup against the Cardinals, Joe Person of The Athletic reports.

Burns progressed from a non-participant during Wednesday's practice to a full participant Friday, but he remains questionable for Sunday. If he is unable to suit up, then Marquis Haynes would likely handle an increased role.

Burns (ankle) was a limited participant in Thursday's practice session, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.

Burns was held out of Wednesday's practice after he sustained an ankle injury Sunday against New England, but his return in a limited capacity Thursday is encouraging. Whether he's able to suit up in Sunday's Week 10 matchup against Arizona remains to be seen, but Marquis Haynes would likely handle an increased role if Burns is held out.

Burns (ankle) may have to wait until Sunday before determining if he can play, according to head coach Matt Rhule, Steve Reed of the Associated Press reports.

Burns left early Sunday against the Patriots and never returned. He also did not participate in practice Wednesday. If Burns were unable to suit up in Week 10 against Arizona it'd leave a big hole in the Panthers' defensive line, with Marquis Haynes likely called upon fill.

Burns is doubtful to return to Sunday's game against the Patriots after suffering an ankle injury, Schuyler Callihan of SI.com reports.

Burns had battled the injury throughout the game but still managed to record five total tackles with a sack. However, the primary question will now be whether Burns will be able to take the field in for a Week 10 matchup against the Cardinals.

Burns made four solo tackles and a sack in Sunday's 25-3 loss to the Giants.

Burns snapped his three-game sack slump to bring his season total to four through seven appearances. Next up for him is a divisional matchup versus the Falcons, who he managed one sack against last season.

Burns had three tackles (two solo), a sack, a tackle for loss and a pass defensed in Thursday's 24-9 win over Houston.

Burns and Haason Reddick have formed a formidable duo along the Panthers' defensive line, as they've each notched at least one sack in each of the team's first three games. The versatile Burns has added nine tackles and two passes defensed to go with his three sacks, as he's adept at knocking the ball down when he can't get to the quarterback.

Burns finished with four tackles (three solo) and a sack in Sunday's 26-7 win over the Saints.

Burns now boasts two sacks in as many games this season, helping the Panthers lead the league in the category thus far. He'll aim to add to his total in an advantageous matchup versus the Texans in Week 3.

Burns finished with two tackles (one solo) and a sack in Sunday's 19-14 win over the Jets.

Burns dropped opposing quarterback Zach Wilson for a nine-yard loss on the opening drive of Sunday's game, immediately making a statement to begin his third season. As a legitimate candidate to lead the league in sacks, Burns didn't disappoint with his start Sunday, and he also defended a pass for good measure. He'll aim to get to the quarterback again in Week 2 versus the division-rival Saints.

Burns has recovered from his shoulder injury, Darin Gantt of the team's official site reports.

Burns will return to his pass rushing role on the Panthers' defensive line in 2021 after suffering a shoulder injury at the end of his 2020 campaign. The 22-year-old ended his season with 58 tackles (35 solo), nine sacks, four passes defended and three forced fumbles. With Burns now healthy and Hasason Reddick rushing opposite of him, the team's D-line is looking promising for this year.

Burns (shoulder) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Saints, Bill Voth of the Panthers' official site reports.

Burns was never expected to suit up for Carolina's regular-season finale, so to see him officially ruled out doesn't come as much of a surprise. The second-year pro's 2020 campaign comes to an end with 58 tackles (35 solo), nine sacks, four passes defensed and three forced fumbles through 15 contests.

Burns (shoulder) is considered "very doubtful" to play in Sunday's game against the Saints, according to Panthers coach Matt Rhule as David Newton of ESPN.com reports.

Burns is most likely going to miss the Panthers' season finale, so he'll end his sophomore campaign with 58 tackles (35 solo), nine sacks, four passes defensed and three forced fumbles. Marquis Haynes and Yetur Gross-Matos could see additional work at defensive end during Burns' Week 17 absence.

Burns (shoulder) did not practice Thursday, David Newton of ESPN reports.

Burns has now missed back-to-back practices due to a stinger, so it looks like he's trending in the wrong direction for Sunday's game against the Saints. Marquis Haynes will likely handle an expanded role on defense if Burns indeed sits out.

Burns (shoulder) was a non-participant at Wednesday's practice.

Burns picked up a stinger in Sunday's victory over Washington. He sounded optimistic following the game about his chances to play in Week 17 following the game, so his absence Wednesday could be the team erring on the side of caution. Still, his status will need to be monitored going forward. Marquis Haynes would presumably be in line for a bigger role should he ultimately have to sit out.

Burns (shoulder) said he picked up a stinger during Sunday's 20-13 win over Washington, Jonathan M. Alexander of The Charlotte Observer reports.

Burns said he expects to "be alright moving forward," so it doesn't seem like the 2019 first-round pick's status for Week 17 is in any danger. He had two solo tackles, one pass defensed and a quarterback hit versus Washington.

Burns (knee) is active for Sunday's game against Washington, Bill Voth of the Panthers' official site reports.

The coaching staff indicated earlier in the week that Burns wouldn't play this weekend, but he received the questionable tag and is now suiting up Sunday. The 22-year-old could still be limited and won't start, with Marquis Haynes entering the lineup.

Burns (knee - MCL) is officially tagged as questionable for Sunday's matchup against Washington, Bill Voth of the Panthers' official site reports.

The questionable tag is somewhat surprising given that coach Matt Rhule and defensive coordinator Phil Snow have both made comments leading up to Friday suggesting that Burns won't take the field. The defensive end did not practice at all this week, so he appears to be more likely to sit out than to play.

Burns (knee) will miss Sunday's matchup against Washington, Joe Person of The Athletic reports.

This news has been expected most of the week and was confirmed by defensive coordinator Phil Snow on Thursday. Burns suffered the MCL injury last Saturday against the Packers and should be considered questionable for the Panthers' final game of the season, which will be against New Orleans on Jan. 3.

Burns (knee) didn't practice Wednesday and coach Matt Rhule described him as "more than likely out" for Sunday's game in Washington, Bill Voth of the Panthers' official site reports.

Rhule stopped short of ruling Burns out, but the 2019 first-round pick can be considered doubtful for Sunday's game after hurting his MCL in last week's loss to the Packers. Burns' absence would deal a major blow to Carolina's defense considering he leads the team with eight sacks.

Coach Matt Rhule said Sunday that Burns suffered an MCL injury during Saturday's 24-16 loss to the Packers, Bill Voth of the Panthers' official site reports.

Rhule described the injury as a tweak, but he added that Burns would undergo an MRI on Sunday to determine the nature of his injury. Burns' status is in question for next week's matchup against Washington. If he sits out, it would be a major loss for the Panthers' pass rush, as Burns leads the team with eight sacks this year.

Burns suffered a knee injury during Saturday's loss to the Packers, but he said after the game he should "be fine,", Joe Person of The Athletic reports.

The 22-year-old was essentially able to play the entire contest, as he suffered the injury during his third-down sack of Aaron Rodgers on Green Bay's final offensive play before the kneel down. Burns had four total tackles and two sacks as the Panthers performed well against the Packers' offensive line.

Burns finished with six tackles (three solo) in Sunday's 32-27 loss to the Broncos.

Burns matched his season high in stops and has now made at least five tackles in three straight outings. That production has brought Burns' tally up to 52 tackles through 13 games, comfortably surpassing his 25 as a rookie. Burns also boasts six sacks with three games remaining this season.

Burns finished with five tackles and two sacks in Sunday's 20-0 win over the Lions.

Burns was a monster Sunday, as he hit opposing quarterback Matthew Stafford four total times and also defended a pass. Through 11 games, the second-year pro now boasts 41 tackles, six sacks and three forced fumbles, emerging as Carolina's most dynamic pass rusher.

Burns (groin) was a full participant in Friday's practice and does not carry an injury designation for Sunday's game against the Buccaneers.

Burns popped up on the injury report as a limited participant in Thursday's practice, but he already appears back to full health. The standout second-year defensive end will seek to pressure Tom Brady and the Buccaneers on Sunday, while searching for his fifth sack of the season.

Burns (groin) was a limited participant during Thursday's practice, Alaina Getzenberg of The Charlotte Observer reports.

It's unclear how Burns suffered the injury, but it's serious enough to force him to miss some practice time. The 2019 first-round pick has had a nice start to his 2020 campaign, racking up 33 tackles (21 solo), four sacks and three forced fumbles through nine games. The defensive end depth chart is a bit banged up at the moment, with Burns Stephen Weatherly (finger) and Marquis Haynes (shoulder) all dealing with injury.

Burns registered seven tackles (one solo) and a strip sack in Sunday's 27-24 loss to the Saints.

Burns got to Drew Brees during the second quarter, forcing a fumble in Carolina territory. The second-year pro also defended a pass while putting together a season high in tackles Sunday, marking a strong all-around performance. Through seven games, Burns now boasts 27 tackles, three sacks and three forced fumbles, giving him great momentum ahead of Thursday's matchup against the Falcons.

Coach Matt Rhule said Friday that Burns (concussion) will play Sunday against the Bears, Joe Person of The Athletic reports.

Burns has evidently cleared the concussion protocol and should be out there come Sunday. He'll be looking to build on his season totals of 17 tackles and two sacks against Chicago.

Burns (concussion) was a limited participant in Thursday's practice, Alaina Getzenberg of The Charlotte Observer reports.

Burns is making tangible progress through the league's five-step concussion protocol, but he'll need to gain full clearance before retaking the field. Marquis Haynes and Stephen Weatherly would stand to handle increased defensive snaps if Burns isn't ready for Sunday's game against the Bears.

Burns (concussion) isn't practicing Wednesday, Joe Person of The Athletic reports.

Burns suffered the concussion in last week's win over the Falcons, and he'll need to clear concussion protocol to have a chance of suiting up Sunday against the Bears. The defensive end will hope to return to practice and build on a solid start to the season that has included two sacks and 17 tackles through five weeks.

Burns won't return to Sunday's game against the Falcons after suffering a concussion, Myles Simmons of the Panthers' official site reports.

Burns had five tackles and one sack before being forced from the contest due to the concussion. He'll need to fully clear the concussion protocol before returning to game action. Marquis Haynes and Stephen Weatherly should see increased work during his absence.

Burns made three tackles (two solo), a sack and forced a fumble in Sunday's 21-16 win over the Chargers.

Burns stripped opposing quarterback Justin Herbert while taking him down in the first quarter, setting up a Panthers field goal early on. The second-year pro also defended a pass to start the second half, making a sizeable overall impact as Carolina clinched its first victory of the campaign.

Burns finished with four tackles, including two for loss, in Sunday's 31-17 loss to the Buccaneers.

Burns is yet to make a sack through two games, but so is Carolina's entire team, making his two stops for loss Sunday a welcomed form of backfield disruption. He'll aim to fuel more impactful contributions in Week 3 versus the Chargers.

Burns doesn't expect to have any trouble transitioning from a 3-4 defense to a 4-3 scheme, Joe Person of The Athletic reports.

The 2019 first-round pick had 16 QB hits, 7.5 sacks and five tackles for loss as a rookie, despite playing through a wrist injury -- one that required two minor procedures mid-season -- for the final 12 games of the year. Burns was one of the few bright spots for a dreadful Carolina defense, splitting time between a two-point stance and three-point stance while playing 43.3 percent of defensive snaps. He's on the small side for a defensive end at 250-255 pounds, but that shouldn't be too much of a problem if the Panthers are okay with sacrificing some run defense for pass rushing. The team still appears weak on defense, but there's at least some potential for other players to take blocking attention away from Burns, with rookie first-round pick Derrick Brown joining Kawann Short at defensive tackle. Burns declined to elaborate on specific personal goals for 2020, but he made it pretty clear he's expecting a breakout season.

Burns (wrist) won't carry an injury designation into Sunday's game against the 49ers, Max Henson of the Panthers' official site reports.

Burns will avoid missing the first game of his career despite undergoing surgery during the Panthers' bye week. The rookie first-round pick has fallen below a 50-percent snap share over the last two outings, but he still managed a sack in each contest. Burns will continue his Defensive Rookie of the Year bid against the Niners, although it'll be tough since Jimmy Garoppolo has been sacked just eight times in six games.