Mitchell to IR, Butler signs

The Miami Dolphins wanted a thumper who can play meaningful snaps for them on defense from the linebacker spot. They also wanted to add a seventh linebacker. They've added both today.

The team has signed free agent linebacker Donald Butler.

Butler, one of the top linebackers who came out of the 2010 draft and was picked No. 79 overall by San Diego, signed with Miami after working out for the team Tuesday. He was among multiple linebackers who tried out.

Butler was available after he was released by the Chargers in March 2016 after he played six seasons for that team. He was picked up by the Arizona Cardinals in July and released on the final cut to 53 on Sept. 3.

Butler, 6-1 and 242 pounds, has 238 career tackles, including seven career sacks. He has five forced fumbles and six career recovered fumbles.

Butler is still in his prime at age 27 but obviously his play fell off after December 2014 when he suffered a dislocated elbow. He had been a locker room leader and even team captain for the Chargers and had signed a multi-year contract extension when the team released him.

The Dolphins made room for Butler on the roster by placing defensive tackle Earl Mitchell on injured reserve. Mitchell, nursing a calf injury all preseason, aggravated the injury in the regular-season opener against Seattle.

But the Dolphins have big plans for Butler once he gets the playbook down.

"Going forward we wanted somebody who could play linebacker," Joseph. "We didn't want to sign a backup linebacker for special teams. We wanted someone to play linebacker for us eventually. As he gets caught up in the playbook, he's going to help us. He's going to play actually "

Joseph said Butler will play the WILL linebacker spot (weakside). That's the position Jelani Jenkins plays.