Titans Place Butler on Injured Reserve

Veteran cornerback has played 77 straight games, will miss the remainder of the season

Bob Donnan/USA Today Sports

At least the Tennessee Titans did not have to search for a replacement.

Cornerback Malcolm Butler was placed on injured reserve Tuesday due to a wrist injury sustained just before halftime of Sunday’s 30-20 loss to the Carolina Panthers. The move ensures that he will miss the remainder of the season.

Cornerback Tye Smith was re-signed to take his place. Smith spent the first half of the schedule on the roster but was released Saturday when kicker Ryan Succop and cornerback Josh Kalu were activated from injured reserve.

LeShaun Sims will be the third cornerback behind Logan Ryan and Adoreé Jackson. A fifth-round pick in 2016, Sims started at least two games in each of his first three NFL seasons and nine total. In 50 career appearances, he has made 63 tackles with two interceptions and 12 passes defensed.

Kalu, Smith and Chris Milton, who has missed the last four games with an injury, will provide depth and serve as special teams performers as needed. Smith, who has played 23 games (one start) in four-plus NFL seasons, was active for four of this year’s first eight contests and registered three special teams tackles.

Butler, the highest-paid member of the defense, is one of three Titans with multiple interceptions this season (he has two). He returned one 38 yards for a touchdown in the opener against Cleveland and took back another 23 yards against Tampa Bay, which led to a touchdown for the offense. His 61 interception return yards are tied for 11 in the league.

Butler has played more than 86 percent of the defensive snaps this season and has recorded 30 tackles. His 10 passes defensed are second on the team to Ryan’s 13.

The 29-year-old, sixth-year veteran never has missed a game because of an injury. In 2016, with New England, he was listed on the injury report with an ankle issue (Week 1) and a hip strain (Week 14) but played both times.

His streak of 77 consecutive games played, which will end Sunday, is third among active cornerbacks.

Butler signed a five-year, $61 million free agent deal with Tennessee in 2018 after four seasons with New England. He made the Patriots roster as an undrafted free agent in 2014 and capped his rookie season with a game-saving goal line interception against Seattle in Super Bowl XLIX. He also was a two-time Pro Bowler with New England (2015, 2016).

In addition to the moves with the cornerbacks, wide receiver Rashard Davis was signed to the practice squad and tackle Daniel Munyer was released from the practice squad.

Tennessee (4-5) will play its final game before a bye Sunday against Kansas City (6-3) at Nissan Stadium. The Chiefs lead the AFC West and are second in the NFL in passing offense at 300.7 yards per game.