New York Giants star edge rusher Brian Burns tore his right ACL during Sunday’s victory against Tennessee and will miss the rest of the season, coach John Harbaugh confirmed Monday.
Burns sustained a knee injury in the fourth quarter of the 12-7 win against the Titans in East Rutherford, N.J. He went to the ground after being blocked by Austin Schlottmann and grabbed his right leg before eventually limping off the field.
Burns’ absence is another devastating blow for the Giants (2-1), who lost starting quarterback Jaxson Dart to a season-ending knee injury in Week 2.
“Yeah, big challenge for us,” Harbaugh said. “I mean, not just a great player, which he is. I mean, in many ways the leader of the defense, I would say, just as a veteran leader and star player, also a worker, out-front kind of guy in everything he does.
“Just, you hate to see it. I mean, and really for him, too. I mean, he was just such a rock for us. Freaky play, kind of turning the corner, puts his foot in the ground, gets hit from the side right at the same time. Again, doesn’t look much like these knee injuries sometimes, most of the time don’t, these crazy contact injuries. So, just a tough deal, but it’s one we’ve got to deal with.”
Burns, 28, finished second in the NFL with a career-high 16.5 sacks last season. He recorded four tackles and two quarterback hits in three games (two starts) this season, his third with New York.
Burns signed a five-year, $141 million contract with the Giants after being acquired in a March 2024 trade with the Carolina Panthers.
The three-time Pro Bowl selection has tallied 71 sacks, 146 QB hits, 388 tackles and 13 forced fumbles in 117 games (103 starts) with the Panthers (2019-23) and Giants. Carolina drafted him with the 16th overall pick in 2019.
–Field Level Media
