David NewtonESPN Staff Writer2 Minute Reading
ATLANTA — Carolina Panthers Pro Bowl outside linebacker Brian Burns is expected to play in Sunday’s opener against the Atlanta Falcons even though he has yet to receive a new contract, a league source told ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler on Saturday.
Burns was a full participant in practice Wednesday, Thursday and Friday after sitting out the previous two practices for what coach Frank Reich called a “personal matter.” He traveled with the team to Atlanta on Saturday.
Reich was adamant earlier this week that the reason Burns didn’t practice had anything to do with his contract. He also said Burns was a consummate “professional” throughout the process of preparing for Atlanta amid the situation.
But he always stopped short of saying Burns would play Sunday, stressing he didn’t want to speak for his sack leader.
“Everybody wants a full squad out there and no injuries to deal with and no losses to deal with. … But this is normal life in the NFL,” Reich said Friday. “When we get there on Sunday the guys that are there, we’re going to do everything we can to go there and win a football game.”
Burns is in the fifth year of his rookie deal that will pay him $16 million. He said during offseason workouts he wants to be one of the highest-paid rushers in the NFL.
The two sides are not close to an extension, according to a source
Reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year Nick Bosa of the San Francisco 49ers is now the highest-paid edge rusher, averaging $34 million annually after reaching a five-year, $170 million deal on Wednesday.
TJ Watt of the Pittsburgh Steelers is second with an average of $28 million per year, followed by Joey Bosa ($27 million) of the Los Angeles Chargers, Myles Garrett ($25 million) of the Cleveland Browns and Khalil Mack ($23 million) of the Chargers.
Besides sitting out two practices on Monday and last Thursday, Burns participated in every practice during training camp.
“It’s personal, but I’m working on my relationship with God,” Burns said recently when asked why he didn’t hold back. “I’m leaving it in his hands. I’m just doing everything I can in my power to be on this field with my teammates. I feel like if you live the right way, good things will happen to you.”
Burns is coming off a career-high 12.5 sacks in 2022. His goal this season is to break the team’s single-season sack record — Kevin Greene’s 15 in 1998 — and he believes it’s possible while Carolina will switch from a 4-3 scheme to a 3-4 with an outside linebacker feature.