NASHVILLE - Malcolm Butler is so excited to be back with the Tennessee Titans after an injury ended his 2019 season, the veteran player is even enjoying practice.
Those hot, steamy summer days of training camp in Nashville that used to make him ache for an end to stop the sweating - well, they are no longer such a bother. Being hurt made him grateful for the good and the bad.
"When I got hurt, I missed those little things," Butler said. "I miss not being perfect. I miss being out there making plays. So you don't want to take anything for granted. You want to cherish each and everything. Go hard each and every play, because you never know when it's your last play."
Butler hurt his left wrist Nov. 3 in a loss to the Carolina Panthers and was placed on injured reserve two days later, ending his season. He had to heal up and watch as the Titans turned around a 2-4 start by making an amazing run to the AFC championship game - the franchise's first such appearance in 17 years.
"I missed out on a whole half a season, and I had to sit there and watch my team win," Butler said. "I'm all about winning, but I want to help win, too. I'm excited. I'm just trying to stay healthy, do everything I can to be ready when the season starts. I'm excited to be back."
The Titans need the veteran. They let Logan Ryan leave after the 2019 season as a free agent and drafted Kristian Fulton in the second round out of LSU.
"I just love his competitive nature," coach Mike Vrabel said of Butler. "He comes to work every day trying to improve."
Butler said he has had to step up more, ready to help fill some of the roles Ryan handled.
"Whatever they ask me to do, I'm here to do it," Butler said. "Outside, inside, safety, whatever it takes to help the team win, I'm here to do it. Wherever they plug me in, I'm ready to work."
Butler has 13 career interceptions, not counting his dramatic pick to seal one of his two Super Bowl victories with the New England Patriots. Two years ago, he struggled for half of his first season after signing with Tennessee as a free agent. Last year, he had two interceptions - returning one for a touchdown - before his injury.
This will be a pivotal season for Butler. His base pay jumps to $11 million, and the Titans could get out of his five-year deal after this season with only a $4 million dead cap hit. Tennessee also drafted Fulton as Butler's potential replacement at starter.
Butler said first he has to do his job and be a leader. As someone who went undrafted out of West Alabama and now is heading into his seventh NFL season, the cornerback said his advice to Fulton is be hungry.
"He's got to want it," Butler said. "It doesn't matter if you got drafted or not. I was on a football team with a guy drafted, and I came in undrafted. They let him go, and they kept me. I just tell him it all starts over when we get to the NFL. We're just working together as a group and try and get better each and every day."
AP photo by George Walker IV / Tennessee Titans cornerback Malcolm Butler holds up his can while hydrating during a training camp workout on Friday in Nashville.