Wednesday, the San Diego Chargers made an announcement that one of their newly drafted rookies from this year’s draft will be unable to attend this NFL season with the Chargers due an injury suffered to the player’s Achilles tendon on Tuesday during practice, which was being held at Chargers Park.

Linebacker Donald Butler, drafted out of the third round of the 2010 NFL Draft, was taken off the field immediately due his ankle injury.  Further examination showed that the injury was in fact a torn Achilles tendon and would cause Butler to miss the entire upcoming season due to the injury that he sustained on Tuesday as the Chargers placed him on injured reserve.  

Originally, the linebacker was expected to compete against both Brandon Siler and Kevin Burnett for snaps alongside Stephen Cooper, but it looks like that has been shot down the drain –at least for this season and probably next, which means that the team will probably find themselves re-signing Cooper come next season.

This entire injury is a blow to the rookie as he won’t be able to be on the field for his first NFL career season; however, it’s also a huge blow to the lineup for the Chargers as San Diego was hoping Butler would be just what they needed to help reinforce the linebackers.

Butler, drafted out of Washington for the 79th overall draft selection, was the star of the show in college.  He was an inside linebacker for Washington and recorded 94 tackles in addition to 3 forced fumbles, a single sack, and two interceptions in his last season there as a senior.  For his two starting seasons with the Washington Huskies, Butler recorded 238 tackles in addition 28 tackles for loss and 4 sacks.  He was a second-team choice for the All-Pac 10 honors.

Related News

• Marlin Jackson of the Eagles Ruptures Achilles
• Kansas City Chiefs’ Cameron Sheffield Out for Season on Injured Reserve with Neck Injury
• Buffalo Bills Put Kawika Mitchell on Injured Reserve and Sign Former Dolphins’ Akin Ayodele
• Aubrayo Franklin to Sign with San Francisco 49ers Saturday
• Raiders Sign Their First-round Draft Pick Rolando McClain