Breaking news from @NFLTotalAccess: #AZCardinals CB Malcolm Butler is dealing with a personal situation that has him mulling retirement, sources tell me. pic.twitter.com/GIo6j7MRQX
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) August 30, 2021
The Arizona Cardinals signed veteran cornerback Malcolm Butler to bolster their defensive backfield. It is possible the Cardinals will have to play this season without him.
According to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, Butler has not been with the team for about a week and is dealing with a personal situation that has him considering retirement from the NFL.
“I have been told throughout the day from multiple sources that he is going to through a personal situation right now,” Garafolo said on Total Access, “and part of that situation led him to be away from the facility within the last week for a period of time, and he is still trying to work his way through that and that, right now, retirement or stepping away from the game is on the table for Malcolm Butler.”
Obviously, we wish Butler well and hope he can work through things. At the same time, it would be a huge blow to the Cardinals defense, who is counting on him. If he does end up walking away from the game, it would open the door for rookie cornerback Marco Wilson to play, whether that is good or bad for the team.
His situation surely has also impacted the Cardinals’ decisions with final cuts. When the rosters are cut down to 53 players, it should not be a surprise to see six or seven cornerbacks on it, including Butler.
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