Panthers Haason Reddick Calls Out Patriots Mac Jones For ‘Dirty Play’

Carolina Panthers’ edge rusher Haason Reddick called New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones form holding Brian Burns’ right ankle as the outside linebacker twisted to get away after a strip-sack “egregious” and “completely dirty.”

“Definitely thought it was a dirty play,” Reddick said. “I actually saw and witnessed the play while it was happening. At first, it felt like he was trying to trip or kick Burns. And the next thing you know I saw him tugging on Burns’ ankle. I thought it was completely dirty. Hopefully, it’s something the league addresses.”

Burns returned after spending time in the sideline medical tent, but in the fourth quarter, he had to again be helped off the field with an injury to the same ankle.

Panthers coach Matt Rhule said “a foul should have been called,” whether it was a personal foul or holding.

“I don’t want to call out any of their players or anything like that,” said Rhule. “I’m always gonna protect our guys, and it looked like it was an injury that happened after the play.”

The replay showed Jones holding Burns’ right ankle after the fumble and continuing to hold it as Burns twisted to get away and chase the loose ball. Burns lay on the field while trainers evaluated the injury before helping him to the sideline the first time.

“It seems they always are protecting the offensive players,” Reddick said. “There’s the protection for the defensive players as well. That was a call that shouldn’t be missed. I’m going to speak out on it, whatever the consequences are. It looked completely intentional from where I was standing, and I was pretty close. I don’t think that was a call that should have been missed.”

Reddick continued to criticize Jones, who was not asked about the play during his postgame news conference.

“I understand everybody is out there competing,” he said. “I understand everybody wants to win. I don’t think there is no room for that inside of the game. Everybody needs to be respectful, right? Nobody wants to see anybody get hurt. For no penalty, nothing to be thrown, it’s egregious, I think it’s unfair. I really do hope the league addresses it.”