Giants Fear Brian Burns Suffered ACL Tear

An ankle injury threatened to keep Burns sidelined for Week 3, although he managed to play against the Titans on Sunday. During that contest, though, the three-time Pro Bowler exited with a knee injury. Further testing will obviously be critical in determining the extent of the damage.

Acquired via trade in 2024, Burns has been a key presence in the pass rush department for his second career team. After notching 8.5 sacks during his debut New York campaign, Burns set a new career high with 16.5 in 2025. That resulted in second-team All-Pro honors and appeared to help set the stage for another strong showing this season. Now, though, Burns is in danger of missing the rest of the year.

Two years remain on Burns’ contract. His future with the Giants should not be in doubt, although the 28-year-old is not owed any future guarantees at this point. In the meantime, New York will move forward with an EDGE group featuring Abdul Carter and Kayvon Thibodeaux. The latter has long been mentioned in trade speculation, and offers were made this past spring. The Giants chose to retain Thibodeaux, who is attached to his fifth-year option in 2026.

With Burns likely out of the picture for the rest of the season, the chances of Thibodeaux being dealt could be affected. The Giants could choose to retain him, especially if an uptick in defensive usage is in store. Of course, the team’s overall approach to the deadline will depend in large part on how the coming weeks play out. The Giants’ low-scoring win on Sunday moved them to 2-1 on the year.

Of course, questions about the team’s 2026 ceiling persist thanks to Jaxson Dart’s season-ending knee injury. Losing the second-year quarterback has dealt a notable blow on offense, and losing Burns for an extended period (at least) will likewise hinder the Giants’ defense. New York is currently eighth in the NFL in points allowed per game (18.3) but the team has managed only one sack in three games.

Improvement in the pass rush department will obviously be difficult to manage moving forward. Burns’ absence will leave New York notably shorthanded to finish the season. Nevertheless, the timing of this injury should make a 2027 return as early as Week 1 a distinct possibility.