The Carolina Panthers received some less-than-ideal news when Brian Burns underwent ankle surgery last week. The Pro Bowl pass rusher sat out the last regular season game of 2022 with a sprained ankle. However, Burns was able to participate in the inaugural Pro Bowl games a month after his season ended.
Carolina Panthers’ Brian Burns Underwent Ankle Surgery
Unfortunately, after returning to participate in the Panthers’ offseason program, Burns’ ankle was still giving him issues. After further testing, the team learned that Burns had a small fracture in his ankle that would require surgery.
Burns went under the knife to have his ankle repaired at Atrium Health Mercy last Wednesday, as first reported by Adam Schefter. The initial prognosis is that Burns should make a full recovery and be able to participate in time for training camp.
Panthers’ Pro Bowl pass-rusher Brian Burns underwent surgery on a fracture in his right ankle last Wednesday, per the team. Burns is expected to recover in time for training camp, with the expectation he will return with no limitations for the upcoming season.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 24, 2023
Can Brian Burns Recover And Learn New Defensive Scheme?
Burns was coming off his best season as a pro, recording a team-high 12.5 sacks in 2022. But with the Panthers transitioning to a 3-4 hybrid scheme under new defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero, Burns’ ability to hit the ground running could be paramount to the defense’s success.
Burns will be transitioning from his traditional spot of defensive end to outside linebacker. While his primary responsibility will still be on applying pressure to opposing quarterbacks, there will be additional assignments that Burns has yet to execute at the NFL level.
There is no question that Burns is athletic enough to occasionally drop into coverage or disciplined enough to maintain perimeter integrity. But it takes repetitions to become comfortable in a new scheme, especially when a player is transitioning to a new role.
Burns was one of the players that attracted Evero to the Panthers vacated defensive coordinator position this offseason. Evero’s odd front scheme is predicated on generating pressure on quarterbacks by disguising an extra pass rusher. Burns drawing extra attention coming off the edge will help Evero keep the element of surprise and allow for flexibility in his play calls.
Burns’ recovery will be something to keep an eye on as training camp approaches. If the talented pass rusher stays on schedule, the Panthers defense could get off to a fast start. But if Burns is slow to return to the field, it could change the defense’s trajectory to start the season under Evero.
The Panthers obviously view Burns as a centerpiece that they want to build their defense around going forward. They reportedly turned down two first-round picks in exchange for Burns before the trade deadline last season. Hopefully, that is not something they grow to regret in the years to come.
Main Photo: Jim Dedmon – USA Today Sports
