After a 2011 season in which he was a largely forgotten man in Philadelphia, Ronnie Brown may start the 2012 season as a workhorse back in San Diego.
The Chargers’ starting running back, Ryan Mathews, is dealing with a broken clavicle that is expected to keep him out for at least the first week of the regular season. And U-T San Diego reports that Chargers coach Norv Turner likes Brown enough that he could give Brown 20 carries a game while Mathews is out.
“I’d like to think that someone will emerge,” Turner said of the Chargers’ running backs, “that we’ll feel good enough about someone where they can get 20 carries.”
Asked about Brown being that someone, Turner said, “Yeah. He could be the guy.”
The 30-year-old Brown had just 42 carries for 136 yards all year in 2011, and he has only 30 yards on 10 carries through three games of the preseason. But the Chargers signed Brown with the idea that they wanted a capable back if Mathews went down, and if Mathews can’t play in the opening Monday night in Oakland.