Will Brian Burns Play Against the Falcons?

It's the question of the day around the NFL.

Everyone inside Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia will be watching closely to see if Carolina Panthers outside linebacker Brian Burns will suit up and play in the team's Week 1 game against the Falcons despite being in contract negotiations.

After missing practice last Friday and then again on Monday, there was some concern that Burns would not play. He returned to the practice field as a full participant on Wednesday, practicing in the team's final three practices of the week. Burns did make the trip to Atlanta, so that's step one. Now, will he play? 

According to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN, the expectation is that he does play although the two sides are not expected to get a deal done ahead of kickoff.

The Carolina Panthers and pass rusher Brian Burns are not expected to reach a deal before Sunday’s game vs. Atlanta, per sources.

After returning to practice this week amid the contract dispute, the expectation is Burns plays vs. Falcons barring surprise.

— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) September 9, 2023

If Burns does decide to sit out, the Panthers will be forced to use a rotation of Yetur Gross-Matos, Amaré Barno, and rookie DJ Johnson to line up opposite Justin Houston. 

"Feel very confident. Feel very confident in our team," said head coach Frank Reich. "Excited about our team. Everybody wants a full squad out there and no injuries to deal with or no absences to deal with, but this is the NFL. This is just normal life in the NFL. We'll get ready to play and when we get there Sunday, the guys that are there will go out and do everything we can to win a football game."

Stay tuned to All Panthers for the latest on Burns' status.

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