New England Patriots cornerback Malcolm Butler’s season is over as the team placed him on injured reserve on Tuesday. It’s unclear what type of injury Butler is facing, but his return bid will have to wait another year.
Butler signed a two-year contract with the Patriots in March after missing the 2021 season – reuniting with the franchise he found glory with. Undrafted from West Alabama in 2014, Butler had the game-winning interception on Russell Wilson’s goal line in Super Bowl XLIX as a rookie. He then made the Pro Bowl in 2015 and was named All-Pro in 2016 while the Patriots won another Super Bowl.
After being infamous in Super Bowl LII, Butler signed with the Tennessee Titans ahead of the 2018 season. In 2020, he had a career year in which he recorded 100 combined tackles, 14 passes defended and four interceptions. , but was released as a cap victim. Butler agreed to play for the Arizona Cardinals in 2021, but retired for undisclosed personal reasons.
During the OTAs, Bill Belichick complimented Butler, who was “rejuvenated” by his return to Foxboro.
“Malcolm works hard, like he always has,” Belichick said. “Very competitive, out there looking for balls. His aggression, his style of play – we’re not in the pads, but yeah, it looks like it’s pretty much the same.”
Butler turns 33 next March, but he still has a year left on his new contract. Butler wasn’t the only New England cornerback placed on injured reserve on Tuesday, as the Patriots also shut down Joejuan Williams due to a shoulder injury. At cornerback, the Patriots are now set to move forward with Terrance Mitchell, Jalen Mills, Shaun Wade, Marcus Jones, Jack Jones and Jonathan Jones.
