Michigan’s Jake Butt injured ‘ACL or MCL’ in Orange Bowl
Michigan tight end Jake Butt left the 2016 Orange Bowl early and Jim Harbaugh says the 2017 NFL Draft prospect suffered an ‘ACL or MCL’ injury
In the first quarter of the 2016 Orange Bowl, the Michigan Wolverines offense suffered a huge blow. In addition to already struggling quite mightily, their biggest weapon went out of the game. That weapon wasn’t Jabrill Peppers, who didn’t play with a hamstring injury. Instead, it was tight end Jake Butt.
While making a catch on the sidelines, Butt tried to fight for more yardage moving forward. He was first hit high, but then Trey Marshall for Florida State came in low, hitting Butt in the knee. The star tight end stayed on the ground before walking off under his own power, still clearly hurt, though. He did not return.
Because he walked out under his own power, though, there was hope that the 2017 NFL Draft prospect would be good to go moving forward and just left to avoid further injury. However, Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh said after the one-point loss for his team that things might be more serious. Per Wolverines beat reporter Kyle Rowland, Harbaugh said the injury is to Butt’s ACL or MCL:
Jim Harbaugh said Jake Butt's injury is either an MCL or ACL. Very unfortunate.
— Kyle Rowland (@KyleRowland) December 31, 2016
As ESPN’s Darren Rovell noted at the time of the injury, Butt took out a disability insurance policy. According to Rovell, the policy would start paying him if the tight end would slip past Round 2:
Jake Butt took out $4M in total disability insurance. Took out $2M in loss of value insurance, would start collecting after Rd 2.
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) December 31, 2016
You always hate to see something like this to such a talented player. However, it does give some credence to those that sat out their bowl games.
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Though you can talk about playing for your team and other things, this could be a career-altering injury for Butt. Yes, he has an insurance policy, but that still doesn’t outweigh the negatives that he might physically never be the same and might not be getting the contracts or security that he could have. That’s tough, but that’s the risk these players take in this situation.