Testing from earlier this week confirmed Brian Burns tore his ACL in Week 3. The Giants edge rusher will undergo surgery today before beginning a lengthy recovery process.
That is not the only damage being repaired in Burns’ case, though. His right knee also suffered a lateral meniscus tear, Dan Duggan of The Athletic reports. Today’s procedure will address both the ACL and meniscus tears.
Burns is out for the remainder of the campaign, something which threatens to hinder New York’s pass rush production. The three-time Pro Bowler racked up 25 sacks across his first two seasons with the Giants, including a career-best 12.5 in 2025. Burns’ contract runs through 2028, and a full recovery would of course be critical for team and player.
No base pay for the final two years of Burns’ deal are guaranteed, although the 28-year-old is owed a $2.5MM roster bonus next March. As things stand, Burns is set to carry a cap charge of $44.08MM in 2027 and ’28. An extension or restructure aimed at lowering that figure could be pursued this offseason, although a major injury could obviously complicate things on that front.
In the meantime, the Giants will move forward with 2025 No. 3 pick Abdul Carter and fellow former top-five selection Kayvon Thibodeaux along the edge. Thibodeaux has frequently been mentioned in trade talks, and it will be interesting to see if the Burns injury increases his chances of remaining in place through the deadline as he plays out his fifth-year option season. The Giants have managed just one sack through three games this year, and their efforts to improve in that department will include a shorthanded EDGE room.
Burns, meanwhile, is set to spend the coming months preparing for a 2027 return. He will likely find himself in a similar situation to that of Malik Nabers from this past offseason with respect to his Week 1 availability being in question over a lengthy period.
