Brian Burns questionable in Panthers' Friday injury report ahead of Texans game

The Carolina Panthers (0-6) have ruled star edge rusher Brian Burns questionable for their Week 8 home tilt against the Houston Texans (3-3) Sunday.

Burns, who popped up on Thursday’s injury report with an elbow injury, was a non-participant during Friday’s practice. The 25-year-old has suited up in all six games this season, tallying a team-leading 4.0 sacks, 20 tackles (13 solo), nine quarterback hits and a forced fumble.

“He had a kind of a little thing happened yesterday on a play where he hurt his elbow,” head coach Frank Reich said, via the team’s website. “Got it checked out, just today was still an issue. So getting further evaluation on that to try to see where we’re at… I really don’t have any of that information at this point. I’ve been told there’s a chance he could play, but it just all depends on what the test results show.”

The Panthers are already thin at the position, with Marquis Haynes Sr. on injured reserve with a back injury and Yetur Gross-Matos sidelined with a hamstring injury. In total, the Panthers have five defensive starters on injured reserve, and carry a long list of those carrying injury designations heading into the game against the Texans.

Safety Vonn Bell (quad) and receiver Laviska Shenault (ankle) have already been ruled out for Sunday’s game.

Panthers Friday injury report

S Vonn Bell (quad) – Out

WR Laviska Shenault (ankle) – Out

TE Stephen Sullivan (illness) – FP

OL Austin Corbett (knee) – FP

LB Frankie Luvu (hip) – LP

OL Taylor Moton (knee) – LP

S Xavier Woods (hamstring) – FP

RB Miles Sanders (shoulder) – FP

OL Calvin Throckmorton (calf) – FP

OL Chandler Zavala (neck) – FP

LB Brian Burns (elbow) – DNP

OLB Kamu Grugier-Hill (illness) – DNP

Still in search of their first win of the season and nursing a ton of injuries, Reich credited Luvu, who has spent the past three seasons in Carolina, for stepping us as a leader during uncertain times.

“Frankie, he’s an anchor,” Reich said. “He’s an anchor as a player, as a leader. His energy, his play is a big deal. We all see it, recognize it. So as we’ve had moving parts, he keeps everybody together. He really does. We’re out there on the practice field. He’s got energy on every play. He’s working hard. The guys, I think we all feed off in that, see that. Just a tremendous leader.”