Tennessee Titans cornerback Malcolm Butler is now out for the rest of the 2019 season.
It was suspected that Tennessee Titans cornerback Malcolm Butler would be out for the season after suffering an injury in Week 9 against the Carolina Panthers, and now it has been confirmed.
ESPN’s Turron Davenport has the latest.
#Titans re-signed CB Tye Smith and placed CB Malcolm Butler on injured reserve. They also added WR Rashard Davis to the practice squad and removed OL Daniel Munyer.
— TURRON DAVENPORT (@TDavenport_NFL) November 5, 2019
Butler suffered a broken wrist during the Week 9 loss after Panthers receiver Curtis Samuel came down on his arm during a touchdown reception late in the first half. Butler was helped off the field and was in obvious pain.
On Monday, head coach Mike Vrabel admitted that Butler could be out for the season, so his being placed on Injured Reserve on Tuesday isn’t much of a surprise.
Butler is in the second year of a five-year, $61.25 million contract that he signed in 2018. Butler’s Titans tenure got off to a rough start in the first half of last season, but he played well in the final eight games and has continued his solid play into 2019.
In his place, the Titans deployed LeShaun Sims at corner. Sims figures to be the first in line to take over for Butler the rest of the way. Sims filled in for Adoree’ Jackson in Week 8 and had his fair share of issues with Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans.
The Titans are going to have one hell of a time trying to fill Butler’s shoes. The defense is coming off its worst performance of the 2019 season in Week 9, and now has to overcome an injury to an important player like Butler.
And, this injury couldn’t come at a worse time, as the Titans are set to host one of the best passing attacks in the NFL this season in the Kansas City Chiefs, although it hasn’t been confirmed if star quarterback Patrick Mahomes will play or not.
In other moves, the Titans also re-signed recently waived corner Tye Smith, and they also added wide receiver Rashard Davis to the practice squad. Offensive lineman Daniel Munyer was waived in order to make room for Davis.