Brian Burns 2023 NFL season props, odds: Panthers name Pro Bowl pass-rusher as captain, but may miss Week 1 vs. Falcons in contract dispute
Will Panthers pass rusher Brian Burns play Sunday?
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It's pretty rare nowadays for players under contract to actually hold out into the regular season, but that's the case with the best defensive player on the Carolina Panthers, pass-rusher Brian Burns. New coach Frank Reich announced that Burns has been named one of the team's captains Wednesday but it's unclear whether the two-time Pro Bowler will actually play Sunday in Atlanta. The Falcons are -3.5 favorites per the SportsLine consensus.
That the 49ers and 2022 NFL sack king and Defensive Player of the Year Nick Bosa haven't come to terms on an extension yet could be what is keeping Burns out, because Bosa will obviously reset the pass-rushing market. He's holding out as well.
Burns was the 16th overall pick in the 2019 draft by Carolina, one of its best picks in years. The former Florida State star has been very durable, missing just two regular-season games over his four seasons. He set a career high with 12.5 sacks, 63 total tackles, 17 tackles for loss and 22 QB hits last year. Burns is heading into the fifth and final season of his rookie contract and other teams have been hovering around the Panthers trying to pry him lose. Last year, the Rams reportedly offered their 2024 and 2025 first-round draft picks in exchange for Burns.
Although Burns practiced throughout training camp (Bosa didn't), he is now sitting out. The team could fine him if he continues to refuse to practice, and Burns would lose nearly $900,000 if he doesn't play Sunday. Reich did not say whether Burns will take part in the team's practice later in the day or his status for the opener.
"To Brian's credit, he has not made himself a distraction. … He's been in the building," Reich said, per Joseph Person of The Athletic. "He's in there lifting weights. He's been in meetings. He's missed a couple practices. He's been a complete pro."
The sides are apparently very far apart in negotiations with Burns eyeing around $30 million per year in salary. Carolina holds all the leverage as it can simply use the franchise tag on Burns next offseason.
"Everybody here knows," linebacker Shaq Thompson said recently of the situation. "Everybody outside of here knows. Everybody in the stands knows. Everybody above us knows what he deserves and what he should be getting paid. They know what to do to make it right before Week 1."
Here are Brian Burns props active at DraftKings:
The lone Carolina player to win Defensive Player of the year was middle linebacker Luke Kuechly, a true tackling machine, in 2013. Kevin Greene in 1996 was the lone Carolina player to lead the league in sacks as he finished with 14.5. The franchise record is 15 by Greene in 1998 and Kevin Hardy in 2013.
In two games against Atlanta last year, with the teams splitting, Burns had 14 tackles and a sack.
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