Patriots quarterback Mac Jones said he had no intention to hurt Panthers defensive end Brian Burns on a play that injured Burns’ right ankle on Sunday.

Jones addressed the situation Monday after Panthers linebacker Haason Reddick called the play “completely dirty.”

“After I got hit pretty hard, I didn’t really know exactly what was going on,” Jones said while on WEEI’s “Merloni & Fauria” radio show. “I thought he had the ball. It was my job to try and make the tackle. That was pretty much it. Obviously when you get up and see the ball, it’s actually down the field a little bit more.”

The specific play occurred at end of the first quarter in New England’s 24-6 win, when Jones took a hard hit from his blind side and was stripped of the ball.

As both teams scrambled to get the fumble, Jones held onto Burns’ right ankle, which appeared to twist while in the air. Carolina linebacker Frankie Luvu recovered the ball, and there was no penalty called on the play.

Burns exited the game after the play for a brief visit to the medical tent, and eventually returned to the field.

“It was a bang-bang play. I didn’t mean to hurt anybody or anything like that.” Jones said. “I was just trying to tackle him and make the play because I didn’t really know what was going on.”

Patriots coach Bill Belichick also said Monday that he believed Jones thought Burns had recovered the ball and was trying to tackle him.

Panthers coach Matt Rhule said he thought “a foul should have been called.”

When asked how he feels about the Panthers wanting the league to address the play, Jones explained. “Like I said during the game, no one is out there besides the players. I just thought that’s what happened and I had to make the tackle. So I did what I did in real time, and it is what it is.

“Hopefully (the NFL) sees it like I saw it in the game and don’t look too much more into it because that’s what it was,” added Jones, who finished with 139 yards, a touchdown and an interception on 12-for-18 passing.

The Patriots host the Browns this Sunday.