From a club to a cast, Brian Burns is learning how to make it work

[Sir Purr]

“It’s annoying, but it’s a game of emotions,” Burns said. “I’m not going to sit here and say I regret it. It is what it is.”


In the weeks since the injury, Burns has played through the pain, but over the bye, he chose to undergo a minor procedure on his wrist. As a result, he was forced to cover his right hand in a cast wrapped with multiple layers of padding last Sunday against the 49ers. The club prevented Burns from using his fingers at all, turning his right hand into more of a bludgeon.


“If you can’t really grab, you can’t really keep contain,” Burns said. “If I’m trying to get a reach block or something and I can’t grab his outside shoulder pad, there’s not really much I can do. If I can’t grab it, there’s nothing at all I can do really.”


It was clear to head coach Ron Rivera, too, just how much the clubbed-up hand was limiting Burns, which is why he played just 22 snaps against the 49ers.


“Watching the tape, there were some things that were tough for him,” Rivera said. “Being able to grab and pull. As a rusher, as an outside linebacker, you have to use your hands. Your hands are as vital as any other position. As an outside guy who plays on the edge, you’ve got to be able to jam that guy and stand.”