When Jake Butt suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in the Orange Bowl, it was a major blow on multiple levels.

Not only did it rule Butt out of the rest of that game and the entire pre-draft evaluation period, but based on the timing of the injury, being ready for the start of the 2017 NFL season was in jeopardy. In all likelihood, it lost Butt some draft money.

But it might not have lost him any time on the field in the NFL.

Butt was sidelined for Michigan’s pro day on Friday. He told NFL Network’s Mike Mayock that his rehabilitation progress has been significant.

“I’m not rushing anything, but I am ahead of schedule,” Butt said Friday at Michigan’s pro day. “I’m doing everything the trainers are asking me to do. I’m right on track. Timetable-wise, it could be as early as mid-July. That would be six months, but it could be as late as October 10th, which would put me at nine months, could be anywhere between then.”

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If Butt is able to be ready by mid-July, that would certainly make him a more attractive option to a team with a tight end need in 2017. Missing all of mini camp, however, would make Butt’s odds of carving out a role as a rookie pretty slim.

Currently, NFL.com has the John Mackey Award Winner as the No. 4 tight end in the 2017 class.

Butt and the rest of Michigan’s bevy of NFL hopefuls will hope to hear their names called at the draft on April 27-29.