Hot start off the edge: Brian Burns, Marquis Haynes fuel Panthers' pass rush

[Sir Purr]

CHICAGO – Everyone wanted a piece of Brian Burns Thursday night in Chicago. It was interview after interview for the first-round pick following his two-sack debut in the preseason opener.


Burns is a bit of a showman. He showed off his trademark Spider-Man sack celebrations and had a shirt depicting the pose at the ready following the game. Expectations for the 16th overall pick are high, and he made quite an opening statement.


Marquis Haynes, a fourth-round pick from a year ago, thought he might be able to slip out of the locker room undetected after his two-sack performance against the Bears. He’s understated. He didn’t unveil a trademark celebration or a special shirt – just a plain black button down.


People weren’t really talking about Haynes prior to Thursday night. He’s kind of been forgotten after hardly playing as a rookie in 2018 (he suited up for just four games).


But two sacks are always going to garner attention, and Carolina will gladly take that kind of production from both young edge rushers. The Panthers hope what we saw against the Bears is a preview of what’s to come in 2019.


“They both came through today,” head coach Ron Rivera said of Burns and Haynes. “It was exciting to watch.”


Let’s start with Burns, who started the game with Rivera opting to sit his first-teamers.


On his first sack, the Bears tried to chip Burns with a running back, which prompted him to spin inside. Defensive lineman Bryan Cox Jr. had gotten a strong inside push, forcing quarterback Chase Daniel to climb the pocket. Burns was waiting for him.