5 players the Carolina Panthers cannot lose to injury in 2021
By Dean Jones
Brian Burns – Carolina Panthers DE
The progress made by second-year-pro Brian Burns in 2020 was hugely encouraging.
His transformation from a situational pass-rusher to a three-down defensive lineman was a testament to how hard he worked on improving his game away from the gridiron despite the obvious challenges each player faced due to COVID-19 health concerns.
Year 3 promises to be a big one for Burns, who has emerged as the Carolina Panthers’ leader on defense and it’s a responsibility he is taking very seriously.
The former Florida State sensation may not have been participating in team drills during OTAs due to his recovery from a procedure this offseason, but his presence on the field was notable as he guided young players through their transition and assisted in whatever way he could to benefit the team.
Burns has all the explosiveness and ability to have a true breakout season and become a real star not only with the Panthers but also across the league.
Carolina is relying on him heavily to do just that and although they brought in some nice additions on the defensive front this offseason, being without Burns at any stage is going to come with some potentially big repercussions if they want to make a surprise postseason push next time around.