TEMPE, Ariz. -- The Arizona Cardinals released inside linebacker Donald Butler and safety Chris Clemons on Friday.
Butler was signed by Arizona on July 27, just two days before training camp began, and was competing for a backup role behind Kevin Minter.
Clemons, who re-signed with the Cardinals in February, was transitioning from safety to back up Deone Bucannon at dollar linebacker, a hybrid role that Bucannon began playing as a rookie in 2014. Clemons, who had an offseason run-in with police, was put on injured reserve last season with a hamstring injury on Oct. 14, then released five days later.
Butler was released by the San Diego Chargers on March 3 after signing a seven-year, $51.8 million contract extension with San Diego in 2014. He was scheduled to earn $4.65 million in base salary in 2016, and his contract carried a cap hit of $9.28 million for the Chargers. His contract was scheduled to run through the 2020 season.
He was re-signed on Dec. 22, and signed a one-year contract in February.
NFL teams have until Saturday at 4 p.m. ET to trim their rosters to the 53-man limit.
