Panthers LB Shaq Thompson on defense losing Brian Burns: 'It's not about Burns'

The Carolina Panthers defense is no longer about Brian Burns.

Following Wednesday’s outing of training camp, linebacker Shaq Thompson was asked about the loss of the two-time Pro Bowl pass rusher. The 10th-year veteran, a teammate of Burns for five seasons, responded with a bit of humor.

“Ah, forget Burns. We don’t need Burns,” he said jokingly. “That’s my guy. I’ma miss him. Hope he does well out there in New York. I’m happy for him. He got paid and stuff like that.”

He sure did.

After failing to reach middle ground with Burns on an extension, the Panthers shipped the 26-year-old off to the New York Giants in March. Burns would promptly get the deal he was looking for from his new employer—signing a five-year, $141 million pact with Big Blue.

Carolina’s defense will likely miss Burns, who led the team in sacks in each of the past two seasons. The departure may hurt even more considering the Panthers just finished dead-last in that category in 2023.

Thompson, however, seems to believe the unit is fine the way it is.

“But it’s not about Burns right now,” he continued. “We got [Jadeveon] Clowney, we got all these other guys coming in here, learning this defense and excelling at this defense. I’m happy to be out here with these guys, sharing the same field with these guys.

“Be out there for Clowney, be his secure blanket. If he doesn’t know something just go out there, talk to him, make sure he understands his technique and stuff like that. But not just him. The young guys—Eku [Leota], Luiji [Vilain] and all the guys that are outside ‘backers.”

Along with Leota and Vilain, who both stood out in last Thursday’s preseason opener, the Panthers will also look to free-agent signees D.J. Wonnum and K’Lavon Chaisson as well as 2023 third-round pick DJ Johnson to provide the pressure.