Carolina Panthers Pro Bowl outside linebacker Brian Burns will play Sunday's Week 1 opener against the Atlanta Falcons, according to reports from ESPN's Jeremy Fowler. 

Burns, who still doesn't have a contract extension, was a full participant in practice through the second half of the week after sitting out during the early portion. 

Though no side in negotiations — Panthers or Burns — came out and directly said Burns sitting out was due to a lack of a contract extension, Panthers head coach Frank Reich insinuated that the pass rusher was sitting out due to "personal reasons."

Burns is in the fifth year of his rookie contract set to pay him $16 million. He said during the offseason that he wants to be in the elite group of pass rushers in the NFL. 

With the backdrop of the Nick Bosa contract, Burns could be asking for upwards of $30 million per year. The Panthers have felt that Burns was in the range of a $24-$28 million player, which has led to the contract standoff. 

Working in Burns' favor: he is coming off a career year. He claimed 12.5 sacks in 2022. And he also said playing in a 3-4 defense should allow him to play more like himself. The only pending question is if Burns will do so on a new deal. 

That problem doesn't appear like it will be solved any time soon. So Burns is doing what he can — playing. A new contract? That is still TBD. But deciding to play, despite lacking the long-term extension he sought, adds another feather in the cap of Burns, who just proved he is not like most stars in the NFL. 

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Feature image via Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports.