Giants Star Pass Rusher Brian Burns Tears ACL, Out for the Rest of the Season

The New York Giants have lost another cornerstone player for the season.

Head coach John Harbaugh confirmed on Monday that star pass rusher Brian Burns tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during Sunday’s 12-7 win over the Tennessee Titans at MetLife Stadium, and will miss the rest of the season, according to reports from ESPN’s Adam Schefter and multiple outlets.

The injury struck early in the fourth quarter as the 28-year-old was pressuring Titans quarterback Cam Ward. Burns pulled up lame after being blocked by centre Austin Schlottmann, crumpled to the turf clutching his knee, and had to be helped off the field. He did not return.

Harbaugh had said after the game that the team was rushing Burns for an MRI that night and expressed cautious hope, but the results confirmed the worst-case diagnosis. Burns will undergo surgery.

The loss is devastating for a Giants defence that held Tennessee to seven points in one of its best outings of the season. It is the second straight week the club has lost one of its biggest names to a season-ending knee injury: starting quarterback Jaxson Dart underwent surgery last week and is expected to miss the rest of the regular season.

Burns, a three-time Pro Bowler, finished second in the NFL last season with a career-high 16.5 sacks. He signed a five-year, $141 million contract with New York in 2024 and had never missed a game for the Giants. Kayvon Thibodeaux is now expected to take on a bigger role on the edge.

Sources:

• Giants lose DE Burns for season with torn ACL in right knee (TSN, via AP)
• Brian Burns injury update as Giants pass rusher hurt on MetLife Stadium turf (USA Today)
• 49ers get rare bit of good injury news on Mike Evans, Trent Williams (New York Post)