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 this latest injury.
An MRI confirmed Burns tore the ACL in his right knee and will have surgery, John Harbaugh said on Monday. He went down in the fourth quarter of a 12-7 win over the Titans at MetLife Stadium and when he was helped off the field, he couldn’t put weight on his right leg.
"We'll have to grow stronger and you kind of grow over the wound," Harbaugh said of Burns. "You heal the wound, you grow over it, you scar up and you move on and we're not the only that faces losses or will face losses."
Burns hasn’t missed a game since Week 10 in 2023 when he was with the Carolina Panthers. Prior to Sunday’s win, Burns started 36 consecutive games for the Giants after they traded for him in 2024.
Burns played 25 snaps as a reserve on Sunday despite not practicing all week with the sprained ankle he suffered last Monday against the Rams. With him gone, the Giants lose one of their emotional leaders and someone who was an All-Pro last season with a career high 16 1/2 sacks.
The team already lost quarterback Jaxson Dart for the season. Now, if the reports hold true, they have to deal with not having Burns whose passion, leadership and toughness set a tone that others follow.
The Giants also have just one sack in three games, meaning there’s more pressure on Abdul Carter and Kayvon Thibodeaux to step up and fill Burns’ 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.
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