Carolina Panthers defender Haason Reddick called the first-quarter no-call in which New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones held Brian Burns' right ankle as the outside linebacker twisted to get away after a strip sack "egregious'' and "completely dirty."

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.

"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 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.''

Referee Clete Blakeman said it was a "subjective call'' and something the league would have to deal with in its evaluation of the game crew as to whether the officials should have called something.

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, who said earlier in the week he loved Jones, a player his staff coached in the Senior Bowl. "I'm always gonna protect our guys, and it looked like it was an injury that happened after the play.''