Jake Butt may not have been a rookie this season, but he was playing in his first NFL action with the Denver Broncos. After missing the entire 2017 season, Butt was expected to come back this year and earn a big role in the offense. Unfortunately, it appears Butt is going to miss the rest of this season after tearing his ACL during Thursday's practice.

Ian Rapoport of NFL Network first reported the Broncos were fearing a torn ACL after a non-contact injury during a walkthrough, and the team soon confirmed the news.

Butt had shown some flashes throughout the first three weeks of the 2018 NFL season. He caught eight passes for 85 yards. Those stats may not look flashy, but Butt is the kind of player every team needs to have. Case Keenum enjoyed having the 6-foot-6 tight end working as a security blanket for him. Butt ranks third on the team in receptions and was trending the right direction.

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This news means Butt has torn an ACL in back-to-back seasons. While this is another ACL tear, it is not the same knee he tore up last year.

Denver will have to turn to Jeff Heuerman at tight end with Butt's season coming to an early end.