Panthers' Brian Burns calls out Mac Jones for twisting his ankle: 'I think it's some bull'

Burns is not too pleased with the Patriots quarterback

Patriots rookie quarterback Mac Jones is taking some heat for grabbing Panthers defender Brian Burns' ankle in the midst of their Week 9 matchup. The Panthers pass-rusher had strip-sacked Jones and when the young quarterback rolled over, he grabbed Burns' leg seemingly to keep him from getting to the loose ball. As Jones clung on to Burns, his leg was twisted and he suffered an ankle injury that now has him sitting out Wednesday's practice leading into Week 10.  

Burns' teammate and fellow pass-rusher Hasson Reddick called it a "dirty play," while Jones noted on Monday that he thought Burns had the ball and was just trying to make the tackle. As for Burns himself, he's not a fan of how Jones acted during that play. 

"Watching the replay and watching all the angles and everything, I think it's some bull," Burns told reporters Wednesday, via NFL.com. "I think it's some bull for him to take his legs -- because my main thing is he took his legs and he swept the one leg I had up, you know what I mean? I think it's some bull. And his explanation for it -- because he thought I had the ball -- I don't think you could think a person has the ball. Soon as I sacked you, you grabbed my arm. And then everybody ran past us.

"Even if you thought I had the ball, it's not legal to trip somebody or leg sweep somebody, let alone twist (an) ankle, it's not legal to do that. Everybody else ran past us. If I had the ball, don't you think I'd be getting tackled? Or your teammate would help? So, I don't think it's cool, but it's whatever."

Burns added that his ankle was bothering him prior to that play, but felt like Jones "tried to twist it." He also said that he's yet to hear from Jones or anyone from the Patriots about it. 

"It would be nice to have an apology," Burns said. "It's not going to happen. However the NFL handles it, it's on them. I would just like to play them again. And I wish all my fellow D-end brothers happy hunting."

As for whether or not the injury could impact his chances of suiting up this week, Burns said that he doesn't anticipate missing any time. To this point in his career, the former first-round pick has only missed one game.