The Giants invested so much in their blockbuster offseason acquisition, that any question about Brian Burns’ health feels noteworthy.
The $141 million edge rusher was seen late in Monday’s practice having his right foot or ankle examined by team trainers.
It might have been precautionary, but Burns removed his cleats and sat out the final minutes of the session.
Brian Daboll addressed the media before but not after the team’s first full-pads practice of training camp, so more should be learned about Burns’ status when the head coach speaks again Tuesday morning.
Tight end Lawrence Cager also left practice early with an apparent right-leg injury and was seen hurling his helmet on the sideline in frustration.
Dexter Lawrence missed practice with an illness, while Tyler Nubin (calf), John Michael Schmitz (shoulder) and Tomon Fox (hamstring) also remained sidelined.
Undrafted free agent Jake Kubas has received some first-team reps at guard in recent days, with Jon Runyan Jr. shifting to center at times with Schmitz unable to practice.
“We’d like to just have the five [starting offensive linemen] out there, but the reality is they’re not, so you have to make alternative plans,” Daboll said. “Getting center reps for Jon, maybe not this early in camp, but we were going to do that at some point.
“It just so happens that JMS was out, so we sprinkled him in there a little bit.”
Daboll said that the first day of full-pads practice often brings “some anxiety,” but linebacker Matt Adams alleviated some of that by showing up to a morning team meeting already dressed in his full pads and uniform.
“He had his whole gear on, so I had him stand up,” Daboll joked, before adding, “It’s good to get out there and work your craft and really start the initial phase of training camp.”