EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- New York Giants standout pass rusher Brian Burns suffered a torn ACL during Sunday's win over the Tennessee Titans, coach John Harbaugh confirmed Monday.
Burns went down with a knee injury in the fourth quarter of Sunday's 12-7 win. He crumbled to the ground when former teammate Austin Schlottmann went to block him in the chest. Burns immediately grabbed at his right leg and limped off with the help of teammates. He went straight into the locker room with the help of medical personnel.
Burns' season-ending injury came a week after the Giants lost quarterback Jaxson Dart for at least the rest of the regular season because of a knee injury.
"We got our quarterback one week and probably our top defensive player you might say the next week is shocking," coach John Harbaugh said Monday. "But you've got to overcome the shock, and you're got to get ready to play the next game and find a way to win the next game. That's what we'll be doing as a team. But I feel bad for Brian more than anything, my heart breaks for him that way.
Kayvon Thibodeaux's role will increase greatly as a result of Burns' injury. Thibodeaux, the fifth overall pick in the 2022 NFL draft, started against the Titans with Burns limited to specific pass-rush packages.
Burns ranked second in the NFL in sacks (16.5) last season behind Myles Garrett. He will finish this year with zero after recording at least 7.5 in each of his first seven NFL seasons. His loss is a massive blow to a Giants defense that has just one sack this season.
The three-time Pro Bowl edge rusher recorded four tackles through the Giants' first three games. He led the team with four pressures before exiting on Sunday, according to NFL Next Gen Stats.
"Everybody knows what Burns brings to the team," fellow edge rusher Abdul Carter said after Sunday's win. "I'm hoping it's nothing too bad."
The Giants were already dealing with a major injury on the offensive side after losing Dart for at least the regular season. Dart underwent surgery Friday to repair the meniscus and MCL in his left knee after being injured in Week 2.
New York addressed the quarterback situation Monday by trading for Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy.
Burns has not missed a game since the 2020 season and has totaled 71 sacks over his eight-year career. He played through numerous injuries last season and did the same on Sunday, intent on playing against the Titans even after not practicing all week and being listed as questionable with the ankle injury.
He came to the Giants in 2024 from the Carolina Panthers. He was traded for second- and fifth-round picks and was rewarded with a five-year, $150 million contract.
Quickly, he developed into one of the team leaders. Burns was a captain under former coach Brian Daboll and is on Harbaugh's leadership council (the Giants don't have captains) this year.
New York (2-1) will now have to attack the final 14 games of the season without perhaps its most important player on offense and defense.
"That really sucks," running back Cam Skattebo said Sunday. "It sucks to see anyone on the team go down, especially [Dart and Burns]."
