Brian Burns was preparing for a cross-country red-eye with a stiff left ankle and a clearer head. The Giants pass rusher, who needed help off the field late in Monday's 28-6 loss to the Rams, told reporters in the locker room that the diagnosis had eased his mind even as the ankle tightened up.

“It's just getting stiff, but it eases my mind. I know it ain't nothing serious, so that's all,” Burns said after the game, confirming it was a low ankle sprain.

"It eases my mind to know that it ain't nothing serious."

Brian Burns talks about his low ankle sprain: pic.twitter.com/a48Pq4dqkC

— SNY Giants (@SNYGiants) September 22, 2026

The injury came with 6:04 left in the fourth quarter, when a Rams offensive lineman rolled up on his left ankle. Burns could put little weight on it and needed trainers to help him off, but he walked past the cart and made his way slowly to the locker room under his own power. Head coach John Harbaugh confirmed the low ankle sprain after the game.

That distinction matters. A low sprain generally carries a far shorter timeline than a high ankle sprain, and Burns said he has dealt with the injury before. His availability will come down to how quickly he can bring the swelling under control.

“The recovery process starts now, so it'll be ice, compression, till we can get back to the facility and we can do more work on it,” Burns said. “Just try to stay on it, keep it elevated. That's all you can do with sprains.”

The clock is working against him. Coming off a Monday night game, the Giants have a short week before hosting the Tennessee Titans on Sunday.

Losing Burns would be a significant blow. He set career highs last season with 16.5 sacks, 31 quarterback hits and 22 tackles for loss, earning second-team All-Pro honors and his third Pro Bowl selection. If he cannot go, Kayvon Thibodeaux and Chauncey Golston would likely see expanded roles alongside Abdul Carter, who recorded New York's first sack of the season Monday.

His injury capped a brutal night for the Giants' health. Quarterback Jaxson Dart left with a knee injury on the opening drive, Malik Nabers briefly exited with a shoulder injury, and left tackle Andrew Thomas suffered a groin injury late. New York fell to 1-1.