TE Jake Butt suffers another knee setback, 'may miss some time'

Just when you thought it might be safe to hope that Jake Butt has turned the ship around, all the optimism has come crashing down. The Denver Broncos' tight end debuted on Saturday night vs. the L.A. Rams in preseason Game 4, playing 11 snaps.

He looked good and even after the game, he sounded good. Following Saturday night's game, Butt said that he felt like he'd 'turned the corner' in his recovery from ACL surgery last fall.

However, that hope and optimism has plummeted three days removed from his preseason debut. Butt was held out of Monday's practice, and Tuesday's as well.

According to head coach Vic Fangio, the big tight end has suffered yet another setback. Fangio can't help but be disappointed that Butt can't participate like both he and the team want him to.

“It’s disappointing that he has, but it’s not disappointment in Jake if that’s what you’re saying," Fangio said Tuesday. "When he starts to feel good and plays or practices, then it flares back up again. It’s just something we’re going to have to deal with here. He won’t play in this game and he may miss some time.”

'May miss some time' could mean a lot of things. Let's look at Denver's options with regard to Butt.

Release him: Putting him on the waived/injured list would be the last resort and would represent the Broncos officially giving up on him ever amounting to anything in Denver.

Roster him: Even though he might not be available for 'some time', the Broncos could choose to just bite the bullet and carry him on the 53-man roster until he recovers from this latest setback.

Injured reserve: This is honestly the one that makes the most sense at this point. By placing Butt on IR, the Broncos wouldn't be able to play or practice him for eight weeks. But then they could get him out on the grass, let him practice and run for a few days, and see if he holds up. If he did hold up, the team would have him for the remainder of the season.

The Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list isn't an option, because Butt did participate in a couple of training camp practices. That's off the table.

Will Butt make the opening day roster? Fangio isn't ready to provide an answer.

“Both options are open there," Fangio said. "We’ll see how it all shakes up.”

The Broncos could be hoping that Butt's knee soreness subsides in time for them to whittle their current 87-man roster down to the final 53. Barring a physical miracle, though, the safe bet is to assume Butt's going on IR. Fangio's not ready to commit to Butt on the 53.

“He may not, but he may also.”

Cagey.

The Broncos have multiple viable options on the TE depth chart, including rookie first-rounder Noah Fant, Jeff Heuerman, Troy Fumagalli and newcomer Orson Charles. The team can get by just fine.

But if Jake Butt's setback ends up costing him a place on the 53-man roster, it would be another football bummer in his young NFL career. The Broncos have been exceedingly patient and supportive of him and really hoped he'd be able to turn that corner in time for the season.

The signs aren't pointing that way, alas.

Follow Chad on Twitter @ChadNJensen.