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San Diego Chargers GM says RB Donald Brown will be back in 2015

By Phil Watson

Dec 7, 2014; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Chargers running back Donald Brown (34) runs during the first quarter against the New England Patriots at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 7, 2014; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Chargers running back Donald Brown (34) runs during the first quarter against the New England Patriots at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports /
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Despite a tough first season for the San Diego Chargers, general manager Tom Telesco said running back Donald Brown will be back with the team next year.

The San Diego Chargers were hoping for more than they got from free-agent running back Donald Brown in 2014.

After five years with the Indianapolis Colts, Brown came to San Diego last spring on a three-year, $10.5 million deal and was underwhelming in his first year for the Bolts.

But despite that, general manager Tom Telesco told Michael Gehlken of the San Diego Union-Tribune that it’s simple:

Brown played in 13 games, missing three games in October with a concussion, and finished with a career-low 223 yards on 85 carries. His 2.6 yards per carry average was also the worst of his career and he did not score a touchdown for the first time as a pro.

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Splitting time in the backfield for the Colts the last four seasons, Brown had averaged 524 yards and four touchdowns per season from 2010-13.

Brown has two more years to go on his deal and, according to Overthecap.com, it would cost the Chargers almost $2.2 million in dead money if he were to be cut prior to June 1. He has $1,083,333 per year in bonus money that is prorated over the three years of the deal.

Brown had his best year in 2013 for Indianapolis, rushing for 5.3 yards a carry and six touchdowns—both career highs. He also had career-highs with 27 receptions, 214 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns.

That 5.3 yards per carry figure was second in the NFL in 2013.

Brown started three games filling in for an injured Ryan Mathews this season, but could never get things going. He had a career-high 31 carries in a Sept. 21 game against the Buffalo Bills, but gained just 62 yards in San Diego’s 22-10 win.

He had never before been handed the ball more than 18 times in a game.

The 62 yards was his single-game high in 2014.

He came into the league as the 27th overall pick by the Colts in the 2009 NFL Draft out of Connecticut, where he rushed for a school-record 2,083 yards with 18 touchdowns as a junior, including 261 yards in an International Bowl victory over Buffalo that is the most for a Huskies runner since the school moved up to FBS in 2002.

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