The Chicago Bears remain busy this offseason as they made a flurry of new signings last week. GM Ryan Pace continues to churn the bottom of the roster seeking better depth. Veteran defensive end Mike Pennel was one addition. Somebody who can provide a boost to the run defense. Tyrone Wheatley Jr. was another. A former Michigan tight end who transformed himself into a tackle while playing in the Spring League. Yet perhaps the most interesting name of the bunch was Jake Butt.
Jokes aside, college football fans probably remember him best. While at Michigan, Butt established himself as one of the most intriguing tight ends in the upcoming 2017 class. He had a strong senior year with 546 yards and four touchdowns, boasting a nice mix of size and athleticism. Expectations were he was destined to be a top 50 pick come that April. Then in the Orange Bowl against Florida State, Butt tore his ACL.
It was the second such injury he’d suffered since high school.
That set the tone for his NFL career. He fell to the 5th round in the draft, being scooped up by the Denver Broncos. From there he tore his ACL again in 2018. He missed all of 2019 because of that injury and then in 2020 after finally returning. Butt suffered a hamstring injury that landed him back on injured reserve. It was an incredibly sad and frustrating four-year stretch for the former college star.
Nobody would’ve blamed him if he’d decided to retire. Instead, Butt continued to show his resilience. He attended a tryout with the Bears last week and apparently made a good enough impression to earn a contract for training camp in August. Watching all of this unfold, it’s hard not to see parallels with another former tight end fans should know well. That being Zach Miller.
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Chicago Bears know the value of a second chance
Miller and Butt have a ton in common. Both were later draft picks. Butt in the 5th round and Miller in the 6th. Both also learned how to deal with injuries from a young age. Miller broke his collarbone twice in high school. Then when he got to the NFL? It got even worse. In 2011, a dislocated shoulder knocked him out for the season. Then in 2012, a torn Achilles and calf muscle did the same. A year later he signed on with Tampa Bay but was waived after suffering a concussion.
Despite that, Miller signed with the Chicago Bears late in 2013 and looked to be reborn in the 2014 preseason. Then he suffered a foot injury that ended yet another season. Like Butt, it would’ve been easy to retire at that point. He didn’t. Miller gave it one more go in 2015 and finally broke through with a solid season of 439 yards and five touchdowns. The next year he had 486 and four touchdowns despite missing six games. It was validation that he could indeed play at the NFL level.
Maybe Butt could find similar success.
He has a better opportunity than some think. While the tight end position is currently dominated by the pairing of Jimmy Graham and Cole Kmet, the depth is another story. There is no clear favorite for the #3 spot with J.P. Holtz, Jesper Horsted, and undrafted rookie Scooter Harrington among the competitors. If Butt can stay healthy and perform close to the level he showed in college? He has a chance to chart the same course Miller did seven years ago.