New England Patriots Release CB Malcolm Butler From IR

The New England Patriots have released cornerback Malcolm Butler from their designated injury reserve with a settlement, the club announced on Thursday.

This release by the Patriots makes Butler eligible to become a free agent. He is now free to sign with another club pending his health status later this season.

Butler returned to his former club this past offseason but his time was cut short when the team announced his placement on their IR list earlier this week. The injury in question is still unclear.

The 32-year-old originally entered the NFL as undrafted free agent and spent his first four season with the Patriots through 2014-17. He signed with the Tennessee Titans as an unrestricted free agent in 2018 and played three seasons with them. He officially retired in 2021 after a brief stint with the Arizona Cardinals but returned to New England before this latest release.

Butler helped clinch the Patriots XLIX Super Bowl victory against the Seattle Seahawks after his iconic interception of Russell Wilson's pass late in the fourth quarter. The cornerback has compiled a career total of 298 yards defended, 406 tackles, and 17 interceptions.