Report: Malcolm Butler 'definitely' attempting comeback

Malcolm Butler The Arizona Republic-USA TODAY NETWORK

Report: Former Pro Bowl CB Malcolm Butler 'definitely' attempting 2022 NFL comeback

By Zac Wassink | Last updated 2/18/22

In a piece of news that came somewhat out of nowhere, the Arizona Cardinals released one-time Pro Bowl cornerback Malcolm Butler from the reserve/retired list on Thursday afternoon. Butler signed a one-year contract with the Cardinals last March after spending the previous three seasons with the Tennessee Titans but never played a meaningful snap for his new employer, as he surprisingly retired before the start of the regular season due to unspecified off-the-field personal reasons.

Butler produced solid numbers in 2020 and turns only 32 years old in early March, and Ben Volin of the Boston Globe is reporting the veteran is "definitely" working toward returning to the NFL at some point later this year:

ICYMI, Malcolm Butler is "definitely" attempting a comeback and plans to play in 2022, a source close to him told me yesterday. The Cardinals released him from the retirement list yesterday, making him a free agent
— Ben Volin (@BenVolin) February 18, 2022

Arizona's official designation made Butler a free agent who can sign with any team moving forward, so logic suggests he won't be part of the Cardinals' secondary when summer training camps open. The last time Butler was on an active regular-season roster, he appeared in 16 games and recorded 100 total tackles, four interceptions and 14 pass breakups in 2020.

As Turron Davenport wrote for ESPN at the time, the Titans released Butler nearly a year ago to clear $10.2 million in salary-cap space. Mike Organ of the Nashville Tennessean linked Butler with a potential return to Tennessee, as the Titans ended this past regular season as the AFC's top-seeded playoff team but then fell to the Cincinnati Bengals during a one-and-done postseason journey.

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