ARIZONA CARDINALS

Released Cardinals receiver Brice Butler re-joins Cowboys

Sep 18, 2018, 8:47 AM

Dallas Cowboys cornerback Jourdan Lewis (27) tackles Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Brice Butler (...

Dallas Cowboys cornerback Jourdan Lewis (27) tackles Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Brice Butler (12) during the second half of a preseason NFL football game in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, Aug. 26, 2018. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)

(AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)

Receiver Brice Butler left the Dallas Cowboys this offseason intent on proving he was more than a second thought. After spending training camp and preseason with the Arizona Cardinals only to be released before the 2018 season began, it was Dallas that gave him a second thought.

Butler announced over Twitter that he was back with the Cowboys on Tuesday morning.

Butler left Dallas on less-than-ideal terms. He expressed concern entering free agency that he wouldn’t return to the Cowboys if he wasn’t a starter projected to be a big part of the offense.

That led him to Arizona, where there was a wide open opportunity to win a starting role alongside Larry Fitzgerald.

But as the Cardinals chopped their roster to 53 players before the regular season, Butler was a surprise release after appearing No. 2 on their receiver depth chart throughout the preseason.

Behind Fitzgerald, Arizona instead opted to keep second-round pick Christian Kirk, the speedy-yet-inconsistent J.J. Nelson, second-year pro Chad Williams and undrafted Trent Sherfield.

The Cowboys had yet to make a Butler signing official as of Tuesday morning, but coach Jason Garrett did confirm on Monday that they were in talks with the free agent receiver, according to the team website.

Butler caught 15 passes for 317 yards and three touchdowns for Dallas last year. He has played for the Oakland Raiders (2013-14) and Cowboys (2015-17) over his five prior NFL seasons.

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