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.
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Defensive
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.
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 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.
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 a tough time clearing all five of its phases in time to suit up Thursday at Chicago.
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 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.
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.
Team
Carolina Panthers
Birthdate
4/23/1998 (25)
Status
Active
HT/WT
6'5", 250 lbs
Draft Info
2019: Rd 1; Pk 16 (CAR)
Birthplace
Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA
Position
OLB
College
Florida State
Experience
5th season
Career History
Carolina Panthers
2019 - Present
(5 seasons)
Previous Game
10
Final
17
4
TOTAL
1
SACK
0
INT
2023 Season Stats
SK
TK
AST
INT
TFL
6
20
12
0
0