Paul Butler re-signed, Nick O’Leary put on injured reserve

Paul Butler has been a ping-ponging Raider for a couple of years and tight end movement has been rampant this offseason.

These two trends collided again Thursday.

Butler is back with another stint with the Raiders because they put new addition — but veteran — tight end Nick O’Leary on the injured reserve with a non-football injury. The Raiders may either release O’Leary or potentially keep him to add to the active roster sometime during the season, depending on his injury recovery time.

Teams can now bring back three players from injured reserve during the season.

Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images

O’Leary (above) was signed as a free agent earlier this offseason.

Butler was re-signed and released once already this offseason. He was first signed in 2018 and bounced back and forth from the practice squad. He will now have an uphill battle to win a roster spot as the Raiders are already loaded at the tight end position.

Daren Waller, new addition Jason Witten, and second-year player Foster Moreau (assuming there are no setbacks from his December knee injury) are locks. Veteran Derek Carrier could also make the roster.