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Donald Butler | Linebacker

Team: San Diego Chargers
Age / DOB:  (24) / 10/17/1988
Ht / Wt:  6'1' / 248
College: Washington
Contract: view contract details
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The Chargers' front office is expected to make a "strong push" to sign ILB Donald Butler to a contract extension.
Butler is entering the final year of his rookie contract. As a core piece of the Chargers' defensive youth movement, an offseason extension would make sense. Butler has 173 tackles, five sacks, two interceptions, two forced fumbles, two defensive touchdowns and six pass breakups over the last two seasons. Apr 3 - 11:14 AM
Source: Union-Tribune San Diego

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Date:
Donald Butler - LB - Chargers

Chargers ILB Donald Butler's 2013 salary jumped from $575,000 to $1.323 million based on rookie-deal incentives.

Butler tore his Achilles' tendon in 2010 after being a third-round pick, but he came back and has started 28 of a possible 32 games since then. He's racked up 173 tackles and five sacks in that span, and has proven to be a solid run defender. The Chargers are expected to approach Butler about an extension this offseason as he enters the final year of his deal.
Jan 31 - 1:09 AM
Donald Butler - LB - Chargers

Chargers ILB Donald Butler (groin) is not expected to play in Week 13.

The Chargers' defense got decimated by injury in Sunday's overtime loss to the Ravens as seven players left early. 2011 second-round pick Jonas Mouton is expected to be active this week and could see the majority of snaps on early downs.
Source: North County Times
Tue, Nov 27, 2012 11:59:00 AM
Donald Butler - LB - Chargers

Chargers ILB Donald Butler left Sunday's game against the Ravens with a groin injury.

Butler exited in the second quarter after chasing Dennis Pitta in coverage. Coming into the game, Butler had missed just two defensive snaps on the season. He'd be a key loss to the defense. Special teams player Andrew Gachkar replaced Butler on defense.
Sun, Nov 25, 2012 05:32:00 PM
Donald Butler - LB - Chargers

Chargers beat writer Kevin Acee expects the team to begin long-term contract talks with ILB Donald Butler this offseason.

After being a part-time player in 2011, his second season in the NFL, Butler has missed just two defensive snaps this year for the Chargers' No. 3 run defense. Pro Football Focus ranks Butler No. 9 out of 24 inside linebackers who have played 75 percent or more of the snaps for their respective team. Acee calls it a "virtual guarantee" that Butler won't escape the offseason without at least turning down a lucrative extension. He's currently in the third year of his four-year rookie deal.
Source: Union-Tribune San Diego
Wed, Nov 21, 2012 08:43:00 PM
Donald Butler - LB - Chargers

Chargers ILB Donald Butler has played all 116 defensive snaps so far in 2012.

Butler is being given a much larger role this season, as opposed to last season where he only played in 63.8 percent of the team's defensive snaps. The 2010 third-round pick out of Washington is playing alongside Takeo Spikes on first- and second-down, while Demorrio Williams replaces Spikes next to Butler in nickel situations. Butler is the only member of the San Diego front seven to not miss a snap.
Source: Union-Tribune San Diego
Sun, Sep 23, 2012 07:42:00 AM
Donald Butler - LB - Chargers

Chargers ILB Donald Butler is sporting a walking boot on his left foot this week while sitting out practices.

Butler returned to last week's game after sustaining the injury, which would seem to indicate that he has a chance to play against the Bills. If he can't go, run liability Na'il Diggs will move into the starting lineup.
Source: AOL.SportingNews.com
Thu, Dec 8, 2011 10:26:00 PM
Donald Butler - LB - Chargers

Chargers ILB Donald Butler left Monday's game during the second quarter due to a foot injury, but later returned in the third quarter to finish with eight tackles and a pass deflection.

With Na'il Diggs inactive with a chest injury, the Chargers turned to undrafted rookie Bront Bird. Butler is probably going to be okay, but it's worth noting in case liabilities Bird or Diggs are pressed into action.
Related: Na'il Diggs, Bront Bird
Source: San Diego Union-Tribune
Tue, Dec 6, 2011 01:47:00 AM
Donald Butler - LB - Chargers

Chargers ILB Donald Butler led the team with eight tackles against the Chiefs last week.

"He had his best game of his young NFL career," coach Norv Turner said. Butler's snaps actually decreased from 70-of-72 in Week 2 to 36-of-57 in Week 3. He often came off the field on third downs, which will likely remain the case going forward.
Source: San Diego Union-Tribune
Fri, Sep 30, 2011 12:48:00 PM
Donald Butler - LB - Chargers

The Chargers remain hopeful that second-year ILB Donald Butler will be a starter "some day."

The signing of Takeo Spikes likely means Butler will be a backup in 2011, but last year's 79th pick in the draft is still a favorite inside the organization. If not for Butler's recovery from a torn Achilles', the Chargers may not have needed Spikes. Butler should still push for snaps as the season progresses.
Source: San Diego Union-Tribune
Mon, Aug 1, 2011 09:02:00 AM
Donald Butler - LB - Chargers

The Chargers are reportedly "excited" to give 2010 third-round pick Donald Butler a chance at a starting job.

The problem is that Butler tore his Achilles' tendon in 2010 training camp, and that can be a devastating injury for an NFL player. A good-looking athlete pre-Achilles' surgery, Butler posted a 35 1/2-inch vertical and mid-4.6s forty at his Pro Day last March. He's Stephen Cooper's heir apparent.
Source: San Diego Union-Tribune
Mon, Mar 7, 2011 01:02:00 PM
Donald Butler - LB - Chargers

Chargers ILB Donald Butler has begun "limited on-field work" six months after surgery to repair a torn Achilles' tendon.

Butler was drafted to replace Kevin Burnett or Stephen Cooper, both of whom will reach free agency this offseason. It's promising that Butler has yet to encounter a setback, but players coming off torn Achilles' often struggle to regain pre-injury form. He can't be counted on for a major role in 2011.
Source: Christopher Smith on Twitter
Tue, Feb 22, 2011 08:15:00 PM
Donald Butler - LB - Chargers

Chargers placed rookie ILB Donald Butler on injured reserve with a torn Achilles' tendon, ending his season.

Bulter went down on one of the first days of training camp. Though he's got a lot of time to recover, the serious nature of the third-round pick's injury will make Butler difficult to count on as a defensive regular next season. The Bolts will have to explore the idea of extending contract-year ILB Stephen Cooper.
Source: Kevin Acee on Twitter
Tue, Aug 31, 2010 04:18:00 PM
Donald Butler - LB - Chargers

Chargers third-round ILB Donald Butler suffered a torn Achilles' tendon in Tuesday's practice.

He will be placed on injured reserve, ending his season. Butler was expected to compete for snaps with Kevin Burnett and Brandon Siler next to Stephen Cooper. The Bolts can't count on him to be develop into a 2011 starter, which would make re-signing Cooper a priority.
Related: Stephen Cooper, Kevin Burnett, Brandon Siler
Source: Kevin Acee on Twitter
Wed, Aug 4, 2010 01:58:00 PM
Donald Butler - LB - Chargers

Chargers signed third-round ILB Donald Butler to a four-year contract.

Butler joins fellow middle-round pick Cam Thomas as rookies signed by the Chargers today. The former UConn star projects as the possible future bookend for ILB Stephen Cooper, though with Cooper entering a contract year Butler could just as easily take his place in the starting lineup by 2011.
Source: Aaron Wilson on Twitter
Fri, Jul 9, 2010 04:51:00 PM

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4Mike Hermann
RB1Ryan Mathews
2Danny Woodhead
3Ronnie Brown
4Edwin Baker
5Fozzy Whittaker
GLB1Ryan Mathews
2Ronnie Brown
3RB1Danny Woodhead
2Ronnie Brown
FB1Le'Ron McClain
2Chris Gronkowski
WR11Danario Alexander
2Vincent Brown
3Eddie Royal
4Richard Goodman
5Deon Butler
WR21Malcom Floyd
2Keenan Allen
3Robert Meachem
4Mike Willie
5Luke Tasker
WR31Vincent Brown
TE1Antonio Gates
2John Phillips
3Ladarius Green
4Dallas Walker
5Ben Cotton
K1Nick Novak