Donald

Butler

“He had his best game of his young NFL career,” coach Norv Turner said. Butler’s snaps actually decreased from 70-of-72 in Week 2 to 36-of-57 in Week 3. He often came off the field on third downs, which will likely remain the case going forward.

With Na’il Diggs inactive with a chest injury, the Chargers turned to undrafted rookie Bront Bird. Butler is probably going to be okay, but it’s worth noting in case liabilities Bird or Diggs are pressed into action.

Spikes was in and out of the game throughout the first half, noticeably hampered by a biceps injury. He’s done of the evening after sustaining the concussion in the second half. Donald Butler moved to the strong side with Na’il Diggs taking over as the weakside linebacker.

Butler returned to last week’s game after sustaining the injury, which would seem to indicate that he has a chance to play against the Bills. If he can’t go, run liability Na’il Diggs will move into the starting lineup.

The Chargers’ defense got decimated by injury in Sunday’s overtime loss to the Ravens as seven players left early. 2011 second-round pick Jonas Mouton is expected to be active this week and could see the majority of snaps on early downs.

Butler exited in the second quarter after chasing Dennis Pitta in coverage. Coming into the game, Butler had missed just two defensive snaps on the season. He’d be a key loss to the defense. Special teams player Andrew Gachkar replaced Butler on defense.

Butler is being given a much larger role this season, as opposed to last season where he only played in 63.8 percent of the team’s defensive snaps. The 2010 third-round pick out of Washington is playing alongside Takeo Spikes on first- and second-down, while Demorrio Williams replaces Spikes next to Butler in nickel situations. Butler is the only member of the San Diego front seven to not miss a snap.

After being a part-time player in 2011, his second season in the NFL, Butler has missed just two defensive snaps this year for the Chargers’ No. 3 run defense. Pro Football Focus ranks Butler No. 9 out of 24 inside linebackers who have played 75 percent or more of the snaps for their respective team. Acee calls it a “virtual guarantee” that Butler won’t escape the offseason without at least turning down a lucrative extension. He’s currently in the third year of his four-year rookie deal.

24-year-old Butler is owed just $1.323 million in 2013, coming off a breakout season where he notched career highs in sacks (3) and pass breakups (4) while tying a career-high in forced fumbles (2). Butler is viewed internally as a long-term building block, with rookie Manti Te’o playing alongside him.

Butler tore his Achilles’ tendon in 2010 after being a third-round pick, but he came back and has started 28 of a possible 32 games since then. He’s racked up 173 tackles and five sacks in that span, and has proven to be a solid run defender. The Chargers are expected to approach Butler about an extension this offseason as he enters the final year of his deal.