Darien

Butler

Josh Jacobs (hip) will play after being listed questionable. Rookie RB Zamir White (ankle) is also active and expected to have a role this week.

The Raiders continue to be snakebit at inside linebacker. Harvey Langi and Luke Masterson handled the interior without Butler. It’s possible that the UDFA linebacker’s season is over if he cannot clear protocol ahead of Week 18 against the Chiefs.

The Raiders continue to have problems finding a healthy linebacker to stick next to Denzel Perryman. Luke Masterson and Curtis Bolton both got extensive playing time in Butler’s absence.

Butler (5'10"/221) was a Butkus Award Semifinalist last season. He notably trimmed down ahead of the 2021 season, and it paid off in spades, allowing him to fly around the field and increase his presence in coverage, pulling down three interceptions with three passes defended. He is quite severely undersized, with his height, weight, and wingspan all below the tenth percentile, but he makes up for it with speed and motor. He has the ability to follow the play well and dodge blockers, but if he gets caught his length makes it hard for him to get loose. Butler can easily drop into coverage on pass plays and chase runs from behind without getting taken out by blockers. There are ways to use Butler that get around his lack of physical stature, and in today’s pass-happy NFL, his coverage skills should let him stick around.