Giants Lose Brian Burns to Ankle Injury in Brutal Blow to Pass Rush

The New York Giants just got the kind of injury news that makes you want to stare blankly at a wall for an hour. Star edge rusher Brian Burns is dealing with an ankle injury and is expected to miss significant time, though he will thankfully avoid surgery.

Burns got his left ankle rolled up on late in the fourth quarter of Monday night's brutal 28-6 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. Losing your prized offseason acquisition in the final minutes of a blowout is the football equivalent of totaling a brand-new luxury car in the dealership parking lot.

"Adam Schefter reported Burns is 'not expected to need surgery but is likely to miss some time.'"

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Burns was nowhere to be found at practice on Wednesday. He needed help leaving the field while keeping weight off the ankle on Monday, and the team is treating it as a low-ankle sprain.

The Giants traded for Burns this offseason specifically to fix their pass rush, banking on the guy who racked up 8.5 sacks in 16 games last year. He was supposed to be the terrifying anchor of defensive coordinator Shane Bowen’s new scheme. Instead, he is in a walking boot.

This is a massive hit to a defense that already looked completely lost against the Rams. Without Burns commanding double teams, opposing quarterbacks are going to have all day to throw. Anyone looking at team totals or passing props against New York over the next few weeks needs to factor in a pass rush that just lost its sharpest teeth.

The only silver lining here is that Burns avoids the operating table. Until he gets back on the field, the Giants will have to rely heavily on Kayvon Thibodeaux to generate any semblance of pressure while the rest of the defense tries to keep its head above water.