Jan 7, 2024; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Panthers linebacker Brian Burns (0) during the second quarter against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports

Panthers pass rusher Brian Burns headed for tag

Panthers pass rusher Brian Burns and Carolina are no closer to a long-term contract agreement, signaling the franchise tag is imminent ahead of Tuesday’s deadline.

Teams can apply franchise and transition tags to restrict pending free agents from hitting the open market without refusal rights.

Multiple outlets reported the two sides are no closer to a contract with the NFL deadline for applying tags set for Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET.

Burns has 46 career sacks, including 8.0 last season, but reportedly requested a contract starting point of $30 million per season.

First-year Panthers general manager Dan Morgan walked into a hornet’s nest with Burns and his agent, who had an acrimonious relationship with the previous regime. Burns considered a “hold-in” last summer, whereby he would sit out training camp workouts but report to the team in hopes of coaxing a deal out of then-GM Scott Fitterer.

Morgan, who was Fitterer’s right-hand man and a business ally dating to their time in the Seattle Seahawks’ scouting department, said at the NFL Scouting Combine last week that he was leaving all options open with Burns.

“We would definitely use it if we had to use it,” Morgan said of the franchise tag option. “We love Brian. Brian’s a Panther. Somebody that I know, that I’m close to. I played with his brother. So, definitely love Brian. But all options are on the table.”

Burns, 25, would be locked in at $24 million as a minimum salary for next season. He would be permitted to negotiate with other teams, unless the Panthers used the “exclusive” franchise tag to limit his options.

In the event another team makes an offer to Burns, Carolina could choose to match that offer or receive multiple first-round picks in return.

Carolina doesn’t have a pick in the first round of the draft despite a 2-15 record. The Panthers owed the No. 1 pick in the 2024 draft to the Chicago Bears as payment for a trade last March 10 to acquire the top pick in the 2023 draft used to select Bryce Young.

–Field Level Media

Oct 1, 2023; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Panthers wide receiver Laviska Shenault Jr. (5) runs for yards after catch against Minnesota Vikings safety Harrison Smith (22) during the second half at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports

Panthers’ Laviska Shenault out, Brian Burns questionable

Carolina Panthers wide receiver Laviska Shenault Jr. and safety Vonn Bell will miss Sunday’s home game against the Houston Texans.

Outside linebacker Brian Burns is questionable after missing practice Friday because of an elbow injury.

Shenault sustained a high-ankle sprain in a 42-21 loss at the Miami Dolphins on Oct. 15, and the Panthers (0-6) had a bye week in Week 7.

Shenault, 25, has seven receptions for 43 yards and 12 carries for 55 yards in six games this season.

Bell, 28, has been dealing with a quadriceps injury. He has started all five games he has played this season and has 33 tackles and one interception.

Burns, the Panthers’ star edge rusher, was limited at practice Thursday and out Friday because of the elbow injury and not related to a potential trade, NFL Network reported.

Burns, 25, a Pro Bowl selection the past two seasons, has 20 tackles, including four sacks and seven tackles for loss, in starting all six games this season.

“He had a kind of a little thing happened yesterday on a play where he hurt his elbow,” Panthers coach Frank Reich said Friday. “Got it checked out, just today was still an issue. So getting further evaluation on that to try to see where we’re at. …

“I really don’t have any of that information at this point. I’ve been told there’s a chance he could play, but it just all depends on what the test results show.”

Carolina also listed linebackers Kamu Grugier-Hill (illness) and Frankie Luvu (hip), safety Xavier Woods (hamstring) and tackle Taylor Moton (knee) as questionable for Sunday against the Texans (3-3).

–Field Level Media

Aug 25, 2023; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Panthers linebacker Brian Burns (0) warms up before the game at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

Reports: Panthers’ Brian Burns to play despite no deal

Carolina Panthers two-time Pro Bowl pass rusher Brian Burns is expected to play in Sunday’s opener against the host Atlanta Falcons despite failing to reach a new contract, ESPN and NFL Network reported.

Burns was a full participant in the past three practices after sitting out two.

“Everybody wants a full squad out there and no injuries to deal with and no absences to deal with. … But this is just normal life in the NFL,” Panthers coach Frank Reich said Friday. “When we get there Sunday, the guys that are there, we will do everything we can to go out there and win a football game.”

Burns is set to play this season on his fifth-year rookie option worth $16 million. The sides are not close on term of an extension, ESPN reported.

He has 38 career sacks, including a career-high 12.5 in 2022. He has started 51 of 64 career games since the Panthers selected him No. 16 overall in the 2019 draft.

Also, newly acquired wide receiver Adam Thielen (ankle) is expected to play against the Falcons.

–Field Level Media

Dec 24, 2022; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Panthers defensive end Brian Burns (53) sacks Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) during the second half at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports

Panthers DE Brian Burns has ankle surgery

Pro Bowl pass-rusher Brian Burns underwent surgery on his right ankle last Wednesday, the Carolina Panthers announced Monday.

Tests revealed a small fracture in the ankle, the Panthers said, after Burns said he was experiencing soreness during offseason workouts. Burns was kept out of the Panthers’ regular-season finale in January with an ankle sprain, but he was able to play in the Pro Bowl Games some weeks later.

Burns is expected to be ready for the start of Carolina’s training camp later this summer with “no limitations for the upcoming season,” per the team.

Burns, 25, recorded a career-high 12.5 sacks in 16 games (all starts) in 2022. In 64 games (51 starts) since the Panthers made him the 16th overall selection in the 2019 NFL Draft, Burns has racked up 38 sacks along with 196 tackles, 11 pass breakups and seven forced fumbles.

–Field Level Media

Jan 9, 2022; Tampa, Florida, USA; Carolina Panthers defensive end Brian Burns (53) in the first half against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports

Panthers pick up 5th-year option on DE Brian Burns

The Carolina Panthers will exercise their fifth-year option on Pro Bowl edge rusher Brian Burns for 2023.

Burns, 24, will make $16 million guaranteed in 2023.

“We will pick up the fifth-year option and we have hopes of extending him after that,” Panthers general manager Scott Fitterer said Tuesday during a draft week press conference.

Fitterer also provided some insight into the team’s draft thinking, saying the Panthers could select a quarterback at the spot or trade out of the pick.

Fitterer said there are a couple of quarterbacks the team would be comfortable taking No. 6 overall. However, he said the team would listen to offers to trade out of the pick, though Fitterer would not want to fall back further than the mid-teens.

The first round is Thursday night.

Burns tied his career high with nine sacks in 2021, earning Pro Bowl honors. He started 16 of 17 games. Burns has 25.5 sacks in 48 career games (35 starts) since the Panthers selected him No. 16 overall out of Florida State in the 2019 draft.

–Field Level Media

Dec 19, 2021; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Carolina Panthers outside linebacker Shaq Thompson (7) gestures to the crowd prior to the game against the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports

Report: Panthers’ Brian Burns, Shaq Thompson to play vs. Saints

Carolina Panthers defensive end Brian Burns and linebacker Shaq Thompson have cleared COVID-19 protocol and are expected to play against the host New Orleans Saints, NFL Network reported Saturday.

They were placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list Monday.

Burns, 23, has recorded 48 tackles, nine sacks and two forced fumbles in 15 games this season. He also was voted to his first Pro Bowl.

Thompson, 27, has 91 tackles, two interceptions and two sacks in 12 games this season.

The Panthers (5-10) will look to snap a five-game losing skid on Sunday when they meet the Saints (7-8).

–Field Level Media

Jul 28, 2021; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA;  Carolina Panthers quarterback Sam Darnold (14) throws a pass during the Carolina Panthers Training Camp at Wofford College in Spartanburg, S.C. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports

Panthers to debut Sam Darnold; D.J. Moore, Brian Burns hurt

Sam Darnold is suiting up for the Panthers’ preseason game Saturday and Carolina coach Matt Rhule plans to have the quarterback debut, if only for one series.

Darnold could play “one or two” series against the visiting Baltimore Ravens, Rhule said, but a final decision isn’t likely to be made until gametime.

Darnold was acquired from the New York Jets in an offseason trade and replaces quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, who landed with the Denver Broncos.

The Panthers won’t know the status of two starters injured Thursday — wide receiver D.J. Moore and pass rusher Brian Burns — but neither is likely to suit up for the weekend exhibition.

Burns watched practice with a wrap on his shoulder and Moore left a joint workout with the Ravens on Thursday with stiffness in his back.

–Field Level Media