As expected, Carolina Panthers head coach Frank Reich was peppered with questions regarding Brian Burns on Friday. And also as expected, he didn’t have much to offer.
Reich, after touching on the injury statuses of wideouts DJ Chark and Adam Thielen, began his presser this afternoon by stating the following:
“And then the only update other update is, really, that there’s no further updates with the Brian Burns situation. So, we talked a lot about it this week and, really, I have nothing else to say at this point.”
Burns is still seeking out a long-term contract extension—a hunt that has, perhaps, been intensified by Wednesday’s historic deal between fellow Pro Bowl pass rusher Nick Bosa and the San Francisco 49ers. But with an agreement yet to be reached, it is unclear if the 25-year-old outside linebacker will be on the field to open the regular season this Sunday.
If he’s not, Reich seems fine with what they have off the edge.
“I feel very confident,” he said of his defense’s depth. “Feel very confident in our team, excited about our team.
“Listen, everybody wants a full squad out there and no injuries to deal with or no absences to deal with, but this is the NFL. Like, we’ve said it, you guys know it equally as much as I do—this is just normal life in the NFL.”
Burns, who declined to speak with reporters once again, was a full participant in Friday’s practice.
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