Butt (knee) returned to practice Wednesday, Andrew Mason of the team's official site reports.

EDGE Analysis

Butt was forced out of last week's practice sessions due revamped soreness in his knee, but it appears the Michigan product is nearing a return to full health. Before throwing him in the line of duty, it'll be important for Butt to hold up well during practice and prove he can play without any limitations. The rookie tight end is still within the 21-day practice evaluation period for players who begin the season on the non-football injury list.

Butt (knee) was held out of Wednesday's practice after dealing with some soreness last week, Andrew Mason of the Broncos' official website reports.

EDGE Analysis

Butt returned to practice last Wednesday, opening a 21-day window during which the Broncos have to decide if he'll be activated to the 53-man roster or placed on injured reserve for the rest of the season. His absence from Wednesday's practice suggests the latter is a real possibility, though the team probably won't be in any rush to make a decision. Coming off a torn ACL suffered less than 10 months ago, Butt likely will handle a limited role if he's available at any point this season. The injury played a major role in his fall to the fifth round of the 2017 draft.

Head coach Vance Joseph said Butt (knee) will return to practice Wednesday, Nicki Jhabvala of the Denver Post reports.

EDGE Analysis

Butt, who remains on the reserve/non-football injury list, became eligible to return to practice Monday. The Broncos now have three weeks to add him to the active roster or else the rookie tight end will move to injured reserve.

Butt (knee) is on track to practice with the Broncos when first eligible Oct. 16, Nick Kosmider of The Denver Post reports.

EDGE Analysis

Butt, a fifth-round pick out of Michigan, has yet to get in any on-field work with the Broncos since being drafted in April while he's continued to recover from a torn ACL sustained in his final collegiate game. Since it's the second time in his young career that Butt has torn his ACL, the Broncos have understandably been patient with the tight end in order to avoid a setback, but his placement on the active/Non-Football Injury list back in July will give Denver 21 days to add him to the 53-man roster or keep him on the NFI list once he commences practicing. Given that he hasn't played a competitive game in nine and a half months and has yet to go through an NFL practice, it's extremely unlikely that he'll be active for the Broncos' Week 7 tilt with the Chargers, so expect the Broncos to wait until near the end of the 21-day window before deciding on Butt's status. If Butt is added to the roster, he'd probably be ticketed for a backup role initially behind starter Virgil Green.

The Broncos decided to keep Butt on the Non-Football Injury list, the team's official site reports.

EDGE Analysis

A report suggested Butt had been moved to the Physically Unable to Perform list, but it turns out the Broncos actually kept him on the NFI list. Regardless, Butt won't be available for the first six weeks of the season and could miss time beyond that. The 2017 fifth-round pick tore an ACL in Michigan's Orange Bowl loss to Florida State.

The Broncos are placing Butt (knee) on the Physically Unable to Perform list, Nicki Jhabvala of The Denver Post reports.

EDGE Analysis

As expected, the 2017 fifth-round pick will be out for at least the first six games of the season. Butt suffered a torn ACL in the Orange Bowl and always figured to be a developmental project more so than an immediate contributor. He did well to land with a team that doesn't have a major pass-catching threat at his position.

Butt (knee) is likely headed for the regular-season PUP list, Nicki Jhabvala of The Denver Post reports.

EDGE Analysis

The rookie from Michigan is still recovering from a torn ACL. If placed on the PUP list, Butt would be eligible to return to the Broncos after the first six regular season games.

Butt (knee) will begin training camp on the Broncos' active/non-football injury list, NFL Network's James Palmer reports.

EDGE Analysis

Butt is still recovering from the torn ACL he suffered during Michigan's bowl game back in January. That unfortunate occurrence caused Butt to slide all the way to the fifth round of this year's draft, and, as expected, will now prevent him from being ready to start his rookie campaign. As it stands, it's unclear when Butt will be available.

Head coach Vance Joseph said Butt (knee) could open the 2017 season on the Broncos' PUP list, All22.com's Andrew Kulp reports.

EDGE Analysis

Previous reports expressed optimism Butt would be ready to go by the start of the regular season, but even the rookie himself admitted such a timeline for his return is "ambitious". While prospective fantasy owners might be discouraged by the possibility he begins the year on the PUP list, such a scenario may not be all that bad in the long run. Not only would it allow Butt an extra six weeks to get back into game shape, it would also allow him to get up to speed within the Broncos offense after missing out on OTAs and the majority of training camp.

The Broncos are optimistic that Butt (knee) will be ready to go by the start of the regular season, Nicki Jhabvala of The Denver Post reports.

EDGE Analysis

Broncos GM John Elway schooled reporters in his pre-draft press conference, insisting that the draft was not - as they claimed - deep at tight end, but was rather deep at the F position, the "move tight end," not the in-line Y position. He found good value for the latter in Butt, who would have likely been a Day 2 pick had he not torn his ACL in the Orange Bowl. Butt also tore his ACL in 2014 and was able to return seven months later, creating optimism that he'll be ready later this summer. When healthy, the winner of the 2016 Mackey Award - given to the nation's top tight end - is more of a security blanket up the seam than a mismatch nightmare - tallying 1,200 yards and seven touchdowns over the past two seasons in Michigan's grind-it-out offense.