Giants lose Brian Burns for the season with a torn ACL
Giants linebacker Brian Burns is assisted by the team's medical staff after being injured against the Tennessee Titans at MetLife Stadium on Sept. 27, 2026. Credit: AP/Frank Franklin II
Giants linebacker Brian Burns played through a low ankle sprain Sunday. He won’t be able to do that with his latest injury.
An MRI confirmed that Burns tore the ACL in his right knee, John Harbaugh said on Monday. Burns, who will have surgery, went down in the fourth quarter of a 12-7 win over the Titans at MetLife Stadium. When he was helped off the field, he couldn’t put weight on his right leg.
“He was just such a rock for us,” Harbaugh said. “Freaky play, kind of turning the corner, puts his foot in the ground, gets hit from the side right at the same time . . . just a tough deal, but it’s one we’ve got to deal with.”
Burns hasn’t missed a game since Week 10 in 2023, when he was with the Carolina Panthers. Before Sunday, he started 36 consecutive games for the Giants after they traded for him in 2024.
“We’ll have to grow stronger and you kind of grow over the wound,” Harbaugh said. “You heal the wound, you grow over it, you scar up and you move on, and we’re not the only team that faces losses or will face losses.”
Burns played 25 snaps as a reserve on Sunday despite not practicing all week because of the ankle sprain he suffered Sept. 21 against the Rams.
The Giants already had lost quarterback Jaxson Dart for the season. Now they will have to deal with not having Burns, whose passion, leadership and toughness set a tone that others follow. He was an All-Pro last season with 16 1⁄2 sacks.
“Guys go down and everybody feels bad for them,” safety Jevon Holland said. “But we know that they will want us to continue moving forward.”
The Giants, who have only one sack in three games, will give more reps to second-year linebacker Abdul Carter and fifth-year veteran Kayvon Thibodeaux, who started in Burns’ place Sunday and likely will continue in that role.
Evan Barnes covers the Giants for Newsday. He previously covered the Brooklyn Nets, Memphis football and the Memphis Grizzlies and also covered prep sports in Los Angeles.
More Giants
