Brian Burns Sits Out Thursday's Practice; Is it Contract-Related?

Carolina Panthers outside linebacker Brian Burns is in the final year of his contract, playing under the fifth-year option worth $16M. The two sides have been in negotiations for a new long-term deal for several months, but have yet to reach an agreement.

Throughout all of training camp and preseason, Burns has attended every practice, meeting, and game although he didn't play a single preseason snap. Others in his situation, most notably Nick Bosa, have sat out the entire preseason but that's something Burns didn't feel comfortable doing.

"We got something special [going] and I'm a big part of it, so I can't miss no time. I've just got to be here. We got a lot of things I want to accomplish, and a lot of goals. God-willing we'll reach those goals, but I got to be here."

On Thursday, Burns was in attendance for practice but did not participate leading everyone to believe it had something to do with contract negotiations.

"I'll just refer that to Brian," said head coach Frank Reich. "It's impossible for me to have more respect than I do for Brian, so that's his personal matter. And secondly, that's a matter of policy. That's not my role to talk about contracts even if that's what it was."

Burns was a no-show in the locker room this afternoon while the media had access to talk with players after practice, but he did briefly speak on where things stood following the preseason finale against the Detroit Lions.

"Hopeful, for sure," Burns said when asked if he thought a deal could get done before the start of the season. "Like I've said, I want to be here. Always hopeful. Just at the moment, I don't have anything to say about that."

Burns is coming off the best season of his career, registering new season highs in tackles (63), QB hits (22), tackles for loss (17), and sacks (12.5).

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