FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- New England Patriots rookie quarterback Mac Jones said he wasn't trying to injure Carolina Panthers defensive end Brian Burns on a play Sunday that one of Burns' teammates called "completely dirty."
The play came near the end of the first quarter in the Patriots' 24-6 win, when Jones was hit hard and strip-sacked from the blindside. He then held Burns' right ankle as Panthers linebacker Frankie Luvu recovered the fumble further down the field.
Following the play, Burns limped off the field but later returned to the game before departing a second time in the fourth quarter.