The New York Giants face a significant setback after outside linebacker Brian Burns suffered a season-ending torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) during their 12-7 win over the Tennessee Titans on Sunday. The injury occurred in the fourth quarter and abruptly ended Burns’ 2026 campaign, just one week after the team lost starting quarterback Jaxson Dart to a similar knee injury.
Burns, 28, exited the game after a pass rush on Titans quarterback Cam Ward, during which he was blocked and his right knee appeared to buckle. He was helped off the field by teammates and did not return. Head coach John Harbaugh acknowledged the emotional toll of losing key players in quick succession but expressed confidence in the team's resilience. “You’ve got to overcome the shock,” Harbaugh said, emphasizing the need for the team to adapt and move forward.
Burns had entered the season coming off a career-best 16½-sack performance in 2025 but was limited this year, appearing in only three games with no sacks recorded before the injury. Despite dealing with a sprained left ankle the previous week, he maintained his streak of playing in every game since joining the Giants in March 2024. Burns carries a $141 million contract through the 2028 season and is regarded as both the team’s top defensive player and a vocal leader on the field.
The Giants will look to Kayvon Thibodeaux to fill the void left by Burns. The former No. 5 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft has experience starting 53 games and has been deployed in a rotation on the edge alongside Burns and Abdul Carter. Although Thibodeaux is a versatile player, he has not matched Burns’ pass-rushing production to date. Rookie Arvell Reese could also see increased snaps in edge-rushing scenarios; Reese demonstrated promising ability in college at Ohio State and had a strong recent performance with 12 tackles.
The loss of Burns compounds the challenges for the Giants’ defense, which has struggled to generate quarterback pressure this season. Through three games, the team has recorded only one sack, credited to Abdul Carter in last week’s game against the Detroit Lions. Defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson emphasized the importance of increasing quarterback pressure to improve overall defensive performance.
The Giants have 14 games remaining in the season without their veteran defensive anchor. As the team regroups from multiple injuries, the emphasis will be on other players stepping up to maintain competitiveness and close out the season on a strong note.