Tennessee Titans: Malcolm Butler could be lost for season
Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel gave an update on Malcolm Butler on Monday, and the news isn’t good.
Tennessee Titans cornerback Malcolm Butler was forced to leave the Week 9 game against the Carolina Panthers early with an arm injury, and the news on his injury doesn’t look good.
According to NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport, Butler had broken his wrist when Panthers wide receiver Curtis Samuel came down on it during a touchdown reception at the end of the first half that gave Carolina a 17-0 lead over Tennessee at the time.
#Titans CB Malcolm Butler, who was quickly ruled out of today’s game, suffered a broken wrist, source said. He’s going to get further testing to determine how severe the injury is. But a rough loss.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 3, 2019
When asked about Butler’s injury on Monday, head coach Mike Vrabel said that not only is Butler likely out for Week 10, but he could be lost for the season.
Vrabel said a "possibility" Malcolm Butler is out for season @Titans
— Jim Wyatt (@jwyattsports) November 4, 2019
That would obviously be a huge blow to a Titans defense that is coming off its worst performance of the 2019 campaign.
In Butler’s stead, the Titans would deploy LeShaun Sims, who was roasted by Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans in Week 8 while filling in for Adoree’ Jackson. Chris Milton is another possible solution if and when he’s healthy.
Regardless of who replaces Butler from here on out, there is nobody on the depth chart beyond Butler who will perform up to his standards.
The veteran corner has seen a big improvement from where he was last season. In 2018, Butler allowed a passer rating of 101.4 when targeted, but in 2019 he’s allowed a 75.2 mark.
He got off to a rough start to his Titans tenure, however Butler has played much better since the second half of last season. The touchdown catch by Samuel was the first Butler had allowed all season.
Butler is currently in the second year of a five-year, $61.25 million contract ($30 million guaranteed) that he signed back in 2018. There is a potential out after the 2020 season that would cost just $4 million in dead cap if the Titans exercise it.