Rain was coming down at MetLife Stadium, but Brian Burns was still out there in pads, and that was the biggest Giants surprise of Week 3. New York activated its top edge rusher against the Tennessee Titans after a low-ankle sprain kept him out of practice all week, giving a pass rush that had managed just one sack through two games a badly needed jolt.
NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo posted on X: “Giants edge Brian Burns is active today, sources say.” He added that Burns had no practice last week after hurting the ankle late in Monday night’s loss to the Rams, but would play against Tennessee.
The Giants did not treat him like a full-time option right away. Early in the game, Burns was used on third down as a situational rusher, with Garafolo noting that the plan looked limited in 18-mph wind, rain, and a slick field after a short week. For now, getting him on the field at all was the win.
That mattered even more because New York was shorthanded behind him. Cornerback Deonte Banks and safety Tyler Nubin were both inactive with calf injuries, and Garafolo reported: “Giants CB Deonte Banks is inactive.
S Tyler Nubin is inactive as well.” Banks is out for a second straight week, while Nubin’s absence leaves Jevon Holland without his usual partner.
The official inactive list on Giants.com also included running back Devin Singletary, tight end Thomas Fidone II, offensive lineman J.C. Davis, and defensive linemen Josh Tupou and Bobby Jamison-Travis.
The setup for Burns, Kayvon Thibodeaux, and Abdul Carter was obvious: get after Cam Ward and make the Titans play fast. New York’s front has been waiting for a cleaner matchup after struggling to generate pressure against the Cowboys and Rams, and the wet conditions only sharpened that task for Tennessee’s rookie quarterback. With Banks and Nubin out, the secondary could not be asked to hold up on long-developing plays.
Tennessee had its own familiar face on the field. Cor’Dale Flott, the former Giants corner now with the Titans after a March free-agent signing, was active against his old team after being listed as questionable with a quadriceps injury. Garafolo also reported that Titans running back Tyjae Spears was active.
The biggest long-term issue for New York remains at quarterback. Jaxson Dart is out for the rest of the regular season after left-knee surgery to repair meniscus and MCL damage suffered on the opening drive against the Rams.
His ACL is intact, and damage to the PCL was also part of the diagnosis. Coach John Harbaugh left open the possibility of a postseason return if recovery goes well, though ESPN framed that as optimistic given a roughly six-month timeline.
The Giants expect Dart to be fully recovered for 2027.
Jameis Winston is now the starter, with Jake Haener backing him up after being signed off the practice squad Saturday. Harbaugh said the team cannot carry two quarterbacks for long and will add more arms, while league sources have connected New York to several possible options. Nothing is finalized yet.
So Burns’ return does not solve everything. It does, however, give a 1-1 defense its best chance to wreck a passing down before a depleted secondary has to hold up behind it. In this weather, that’s the job.
In Other News...
Giants Win Sparked An Ugly Reaction Titans Fans Cant Defend
The loss to the Giants brought plenty of frustration into Titans circles, but the reaction around Cam Wards family has pushed the conversation well beyond football. In the aftermath, Wards sister, Chantel, used social media to address the harassment and threats being directed at their family, drawing a hard line between criticism of the game and personal attacks on people who have nothing to do with what happens on the field.
Her message underscored how quickly online anger can turn ugly, with the family dealing with threats, hate, bullying and disrespect after the game. Chantel urged fans to remember that players and their families are still people first, a reminder that lands especially hard when the noise around a team starts spilling into personal territory. [Read more 🡒]
Cam Ward Is Already Facing A Titans Concern Fans Know Too Well
Cam Wards first few weeks in Tennessee have already brought the kind of growing pains Titans fans know too well. In the loss to the Giants, the rookie quarterback again ran into trouble with his decision-making, a problem that has a way of showing up fast in the NFL and even faster for a team trying to stabilize its offense around a young passer.
For the Titans, the concern is less about one bad afternoon than the pattern it hints at. Ward has the tools that made him such a central piece of the reset in Tennessee, but the margin for error is thin when the offense is still searching for rhythm. If the mistakes keep stacking up, the questions around him will only get louder, and this team has already heard that soundtrack before. [Read more 🡒]
Colin Simmons Just Forced His Way Into A Titans Debate
A dominant outing against Tennessee did more than tilt the game in Texas favor, it put Colin Simmons squarely on the radar for a Titans team that already has a clear need coming off the edge. The Longhorns pass rusher was disruptive from start to finish, piling up ten pressures, five sacks and eight run stops in a performance that showed why evaluators are beginning to talk about him as one of the premier prospects in the 2027 NFL Draft.
For Tennessee, the timing makes the matchup even more notable. Edge rusher is a spot the Titans will be watching closely as they map out the future, and Simmons has the kind of burst and all-around impact that can change the conversation fast. There is still a long way to go before draft boards are set, but games like this have a way of making a player feel a lot more real to the team that just saw him wrecking its offense. [Read more 🡒]