The Chargers announced that they have placed Donald Butler on the injured reserve with a dislocated elbow. With the inside linebacker out for the year, the Bolts promoted cornerback Greg Ducre off the practice squad to the active roster and signed quarterback Brad Sorensen to the practice squad.
Butler, 26, re-signed with the Chargers in March rather than hitting the open market. While we don’t know what other clubs might have offered him, Butler was paid hansomely to forego free agency. Butler’s deal covers seven years with a total potential value of $51.8MM with $11.15MM guaranteed at signing. It’s yet another season dragged down by injuries for Butler, who ranked 45th among 55 qualified inside linebackers in 2013, according to Pro Football Focus’ metrics (subscription required). This season, he ranks an abysmal 59th out of 60 qualified inside linebackers.
Ducre was signed to San Diego’s taxi squad last week just days after being let go by Washington. The 22-year-old (23 in January) was a superstar in camp with the Chargers this past season, so it’s not a huge surprise to see him get the promotion.
Sorensen, 26, was drafted 221st overall in the seventh round of the 2013 NFL Draft by the Chargers. The Southern Utah product was cut loose this past August but the Bolts have obviously kept his number handy. Sorensen spent some time on the Titans’ taxi squad this season and auditioned for the Texans, Panthers, Seahawks, Vikings, Bills, and Patriots once he was let go in late September.