Former Tennessee defensive lineman Matthew Butler is back on the market after the Miami Dolphins moved on from him ahead of the season.
Butler became the third former Vol to run into roster trouble on Sunday, joining a wave of cuts and waivers as teams worked to trim down to 53 players. For Tennessee fans, it’s another reminder of how quickly NFL careers can shift at this stage of the calendar.
The Dolphins released Butler after the preseason wrapped up, deciding there wasn’t a spot for the former Tennessee interior defensive lineman on the roster. He had been expected to compete for a role, but the opportunity never turned into a fit.
Still, the move doesn’t come as a huge surprise. Butler was not viewed as a player likely to carve out a major role in Miami this season. At best, he appeared headed for rotational duty and was competing to become a priority backup, with his preseason work putting him in that mix.
He did finish the preseason with half a sack, a respectable showing for an interior defender, but it wasn’t enough to keep him in Miami.
Butler is now looking for his next NFL home ahead of the 2026 season. He joins former Tennessee quarterback Joey Aguilar, who was waived, and McCallan Castles, who was cut, on the list of former Vols who have already been bumped off their teams.
Former Tennessee players announced as cut or waived:
- Joey Aguilar, quarterback - waived by the Jacksonville Jaguars
- McCallan Castles, tight end - released by the Green Bay Packers
- Matthew Butler, defensive lineman - released by the Miami Dolphins
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