Donald Brown - Pro Football Rumors

Patriots Release Donald Brown

August 23rd, 2016 at 9:00am CST by Zachary Links

The Patriots have released running back Donald Brown with an injury settlement, according to a source who spoke with Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald. Brown hasn’t practiced for three weeks due to an undisclosed injury.

As Howe notes, Brown was working with first team earlier this summer and he figured to be a big part of the Pats’ plans. Instead, he’ll be looking for employment elsewhere once he resumes being healthy. The Pats are now left with LeGarrette Blount, James White, Brandon Bolden, Tyler Gaffney, D.J. Foster, and Joey Iosefa at running back. Blount, White, and Bolden are expected to make the roster while Gaffney is probably the frontrunner for the fourth RB spot.

Although he made a handful of starts during his two years with the Chargers, particularly when the club’s backfield was hit hard by injuries, Brown never made a significant impact. In total, he accumulated 452 rushing yards on 144 attempts (3.1 ypc), and added 299 receiving yards on 37 catches.

The Patriots also released defensive tackle Frank Kearse.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

AFC East Notes: Fitzpatrick, Wilkerson, Blount

March 19th, 2016 at 10:49am CST by Ben Levine

The Jets made it clear earlier this week that their goal is to sign free agent quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, but general manager Mike Maccagnan is still realistic about his team’s chances to retain the 33-year-old.

“We like Ryan — we’d like to have Ryan back — but at the end of the day, it’s free agency,” the Jets executive said (via ESPN.com’s Rich Cimini). “You go through it. At some point in time, hopefully, we can find a middle ground we’re both happy with.”

Let’s check out some more notes from the AFC East…

As Jets Pro Bowler Muhammad Wilkerson continues to recover from a broken leg, agent Chad Wiestling tweets that the defensive lineman will be playing for “someone” during the 2016 season.
Considering his age and price tag, it would make sense for the Jets to trade for Broncos offensive lineman Ryan Clady to replace incumbent D’Brickashaw Ferguson. However, if the team was truly looking for a Ferguson replacement, Cimini believes the team would have been better off pursuing Russell Okung, who signed with the Broncos earlier this week.
ESPN.com’s Mike Reiss doesn’t believe the Donald Brown signing would prevent LeGarrette Blount from returning to the Patriots. Even if the team does bring back the veteran, the writer still envisions the Patriots selecting a running back in the draft.
Before signing with the Patriots, linebacker Shea McClellin also met with the Seahawks, tweets Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle.

Patriots Sign Donald Brown

March 19th, 2016 at 8:45am CST by Luke Adams

SATURDAY, 8:45am: It’s a one-year deal for Brown worth $965K, reports Ben Volin of the Boston Globe (via Twitter). The deal includes an $885K salary, a $50K signing bonus, and a $30K workout bonus. His cap number is worth $680K.

The Patriots also gave the running back $300K in guaranteed money, which Volin suggests could be an indication that Brown’s going to stick around for the regular season.

FRIDAY, 1:24pm: The Patriots have formally announced their deal with Brown.

WEDNESDAY, 2:21pm: The Patriots have added a running back to their offense, according to Peter Schrager of FOX Sports, who tweets that the team has agreed to terms with veteran free agent Donald Brown.

With veterans LeGarrette Blount and Steven Jackson eligible for free agency, Brown will join a backfield that currently features James White, Dion Lewis, and Brandon Bolden, among others. While the move shouldn’t preclude a reunion with Blount, or another veteran addition, Brown will provide some insurance on the depth chart.

Brown, who turns 29 next month, had been set to enter the final season of the three-year contract he signed with the Chargers back in 2014. However, he was released by San Diego earlier in March.

Although he made a handful of starts during his two years with the Chargers, particularly when the club’s backfield was hit hard by injuries, Brown never made a significant impact. In total, he accumulated 452 rushing yards on 144 attempts (3.1 ypc), and added 299 receiving yards on 37 catches.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Chargers Cut Donald Brown, Kavell Conner

March 3rd, 2016 at 1:41pm CST by Luke Adams

The Chargers have issued a press release announcing that the team has cut four players from its roster. In addition to confirming the release of veteran linebacker Donald Butler, the Chargers have also parted ways with running back Donald Brown, linebacker Kavell Conner, and linebacker Chi Chi Ariguzo.

[RELATED: Chargers release Donald Butler]

Brown, who turns 29 next month, had been set to enter the final season of the three-year contract he signed with the Chargers back in 2014. However, he had long been considered a probable cap casualty. If the Chargers had kept Brown on their roster, the team would have owed him a $500K roster bonus next week, plus a $3MM base salary in the fall. By cutting him, they wipe that entire $3.5MM from their cap.

Although he made a handful of starts for the Chargers in his two years in San Diego, particularly when the club’s backfield was hit hard by injuries, Brown never made a significant impact. In total, he accumulated 452 rushing yards on 144 attempts (3.1 ypc), and added 299 receiving yards on 37 catches. With Melvin Gordon, Danny Woodhead, and Branden Oliver in the mix, Brown likely would have been buried on the depth chart if he had returned in 2016.

Conner, who just turned 29, started seven games for the Chargers in 2014, but saw his role cut back in 2015. After picking up 70 tackles and a sack in his first year with the Chargers, Cavell logged just 15 tackles last season. His release will clear his $950K base salary from San Diego’s books.

Ariguzo, who has yet to appear in a regular-season NFL game, spent the 2015 season on IR. He’ll hit waivers and his release won’t create any cap room for the Chargers.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

AFC Notes: D. Brown, Pats, Whisenhunt

November 3rd, 2015 at 11:39am CST by Luke Adams

Chargers running back Donald Brown had been viewed as a potential trade candidate heading into this week, and according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link), teams had been calling about the veteran back. However, with Branden Oliver nursing an injury, Brown figures to remain in San Diego, per Rapoport.

Here are a few more items from around the AFC, with the trade deadline just hours away:

The Patriots are welcoming back two players – linebacker Dane Fletcher and defensive tackle Chris Jones – to practice today after they spent the first eight weeks of the season on the PUP list, according to Mike Reiss of ESPN.com (Twitter links). New England will now have three weeks to either activate Fletcher and Jones or to rule them out for the rest of the season. The Pats had a league-high three players on PUP to start the year, with Fletcher and Jones joining wideout Brandon LaFell.
While most reports have pegged the value of Ken Whisenhunt‘s five-year contract with the Titans at $5MM annually, ESPN’s Ed Werder tweets that it’s actually worth closer to $30MM, or $6MM per year. Tennessee parted ways with Whisenhunt today despite the fact that he had more than three years remaining on that deal, so the club still owes him a significant chunk of money.
Although Le’Veon Bell‘s knee injury has ended his 2015 season, his ACL remains intact, and Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said today that his running back should be ready for the start of the 2016 campaign (Twitter link via Mark Kaboly of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review).
Dolphins rookie running back Jay Ajayi is hoping to be activated this week after spending eight weeks on IR with the designation to return, as James Walker of ESPN.com writes.

AFC Notes: S. Smith, Jets, Wright, Wake

November 2nd, 2015 at 8:56am CST by Luke Adams

After Steve Smith Sr. suffered a torn Achilles during Sunday’s win over the Chargers, Ravens head coach John Harbaugh was among those quick to express hope that the standout receiver will reconsider his plans to retire, telling reporters, “I have a feeling Steve Smith will be back.” As Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com details, Harbaugh wasn’t the only one in the Ravens’ locker room conveying that sentiment.

“I’ll definitely be whispering in his ear, hopefully to get him back out there,” running back Justin Forsett said.

While Smith announced before the season that 2015 would be his last year in the NFL, there are doubts that he’d want to go out this way. If he does decide to play one more year in 2016, the Ravens “would certainly welcome him back,” writes Hensley.

Here’s more from around the AFC:

If the Jets decide to add an outside quarterback to add depth after Ryan Fitzpatrick and Geno Smith got banged up on Sunday, don’t expect them to consider adding Ryan Mallett, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (via Twitter).
Titans wide receiver Kendall Wright suffered a sprained MCL on Sunday, a source tells Schefter (Twitter link). However, the injury doesn’t sound nearly as serious as the MCL tear suffered by Le’Veon Bell on Sunday, which means Wright’s season shouldn’t be in jeopardy.
Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald examines a few options the Dolphins have with Cameron Wake, as the team decides whether or not to retain the veteran defensive end – who is recovering from a torn Achilles – for the 2016 season.
Michael Gehlken of the San Diego Union-Tribune (Twitter links) identifies Chargers running back Donald Brown as a potential trade candidate in advance of tomorrow’s deadline. As Gehlken notes, Brown is buried on San Diego’s depth chart, and drew serious interest from another team when he was briefly cut by the Chargers earlier this year.

Chargers To Re-Sign Donald Brown

October 5th, 2015 at 4:17pm CST by Zachary Links

The Chargers have re-signed Donald Brown, according to Field Yates of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Brown was released by San Diego over the weekend but he has quickly circled back to the team. As a vested veteran, Brown did not have to pass through waivers.

Brown signed a three-year, $10.5MM deal with the Bolts in 2014, but missed three games due to injury last season and was usurped by undrafted free agent Branden Oliver. At the time of his release, the Chargers didn’t seem to have a spot for the former Colts first-round pick, with Melvin Gordon and Danny Woodhead atop the depth chart and Oliver seeing carries behind them.

The 28-year-old Brown was due $3MM this season in base salary and carried a $4.83MM cap number under his old contract – the largest among San Diego running backs and the eighth-highest figure on the Chargers. He averaged just 2.6 yards per carry last season after netting 5.3 per tote in 2013, a season when he recorded a career-high six touchdowns. The ex-Connecticut standout has $2.17MM in dead money on the Chargers’ books this season and $1.08MM in 2016. One would imagine that Brown’s new deal is for less money, but San Diego likely had to re-sign him at his previous $3MM salary due to termination pay rules, Jason Fitzgerald of Over The Cap tweets.

In a corresponding move, the Chargers announced that they have parted ways with offensive lineman Michael Ola. The Chargers promoted the guard on Saturday when they released Brown.

Chargers Release Donald Brown

October 3rd, 2015 at 3:47pm CST by Sam Robinson

Without a role as the Chargers now have a deep backfield, Donald Brown will begin looking for work elsewhere after San Diego released him, Michael Gehlken of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

As a result, the Chargers promoted guard Michael Ola from the practice squad to help with the rash of injuries the offensive front’s sustained.

Brown signed a three-year, $10.5MM deal with the Bolts in 2014, but missed three games due to injury last season and was usurped by undrafted free agent Branden Oliver. This season, the Chargers didn’t seem to have a spot for the former Colts first-round pick, with Melvin Gordon and Danny Woodhead atop the depth chart and Oliver seeing carries behind them.

The 28-year-old Brown was due $3MM this season in base salary and carried a $4.83MM cap number — the largest among San Diego running backs and the eighth-highest figure on the Chargers — but had yet to play a down. He averaged just 2.6 yards per carry last season after netting 5.3 per tote in 2013, a season when he recorded a career-high six touchdowns.

The ex-Connecticut standout has $2.17MM in dead money on the Chargers’ books this season and $1.08MM in 2016.

Gehlken tweeted the Chargers would like to bring Brown back, but he’s a vested veteran and doesn’t have to pass through waivers. Although the Chargers beat reporter notes if Brown does come back it would be at a reduced rate.

Three of the five Chargers starting offensive linemen missed practice Friday, with only Joe Barksdale participating. D.J. Fluker participated partially, while Orlando Franklin, Chris Watt and King Dunlap did not work out. The latter trio are doubtful for Sunday’s game against the Browns.

That created a need for Ola, a 27-year-old CFL veteran who played multiple positions for the Bears last season, starting 12 games.

Chargers GM Talks Rivers, RBs, Offseason

December 31st, 2014 at 3:56pm CST by Luke Adams

Chargers general manager Tom Telesco addressed reporters in an end-of-season press conference today, and Michael Gehlken of the San Diego Union-Tribune passed along several of the GM’s more notable comments. Here are the highlights from the presser, with all links headed to Gehlken’s Twitter account:

Philip Rivers is under contract for one more year, and the Chargers will “definitely” work to extend his contract this offseason, said Telesco, adding that he thinks the quarterback has several good years left in him, and he wants Rivers to finish his career in San Diego. Still, Telesco admitted that he has to keep an eye on “what’s next” at the QB position, which may mean adding a young player to develop in the not-so-distant future.
Telesco is pleased with the culture and the foundation in place in San Diego, and thinks the next step is for the Chargers to continue developing their current young players and adding complementary pieces — no overhaul of any kind is necessary.
Discussing San Diego’s running backs, Telesco said Donald Brown – who is under contract for 2015 – will be back and that the front office knows what Ryan Mathews means the team. Mathews is a free agent, and the GM appreciates having time to make a decision on him.
Telesco also acknowledged that the running game must improve, which involves upgrading the offensive line as well.
The Chargers have “a number” of contracts to extend or restructure heading into the offseason, according to Telesco, though he didn’t identify specific deals.
The interest Frank Reich is receiving as a head coaching candidate doesn’t surprise Telesco, but the GM “selfishly” wants the offensive coordinator to remain in San Diego. The club won’t stop Reich from pursuing head coaching opportunities.
Telesco is comfortable with D.J. Fluker at right tackle moving forward.

Injury Updates: Sunday

October 5th, 2014 at 10:57pm CST by Rob DiRe

Here are some injuries that occurred during Sunday’s game action:

Chargers‘ center Doug Legursky left the blowout victory over the Jets with a knee injury, and Michael Gehlken of the U-T San Diego reports that he will likely be out much longer (via Twitter).
The Jets also lost a key member of their team, with linebacker David Harris suffering a shoulder injury, reports Brian Costello of the New York Post (via Twitter). He will undergo an MRI tomorrow.
Calais Campbell‘s injury reported earlier was an MCL injury, and will keep him out between three and four weeks, reports Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com (via Twitter).

Earlier Updates:

Saints‘ star tight end Jimmy Graham suffered a sprained shoulder during the team’s overtime victory against the Buccaneers earlier today. The team is going into their bye week, which should give the All-Pro pass catcher time to recover. Graham hopes to return to the field the following week against the Lions.
Titans‘ safety Bernard Pollard left the locker room using crutches, reports Jim Wyatt of the Tennesseean (via Twitter). The team fears that he has torn his achilles, writes Darin Gantt of Pro Football Talk. Pollard will have an MRI on Monday.
Titans‘ starting quarterback Jake Locker has also faced an injury, being forced out of the team’s loss at the hands of the Browns. Locker injured his thumb in the game, and while X-rays were negative, he will have an MRI on Monday, writes Paul Kuharsky of ESPN.
Giants‘ running back Rashad Jennings is set to have an MRI on his knee tomorrow, but believes the injury is not serious, according to Ebenezer Samuel of the New York Daily News (via Twitter).
There have been a number of injuries for the Cardinals during their matchup against the Broncos. Starting quarterback Drew Stanton, who was already filling in for an injured Carson Palmer, has been forced out of the game with a concussion, reports Mark Dalton of the Arizona Cardinals (via Twitter). Rookie Logan Thomas has replaced him in the game. The team does not have an emergency quarterback left on their roster. Defensive end Calais Campbell has also been removed from the game with a knee injury, reports Lindsay Jones of USA Today (via Twitter).
The Broncos have not been unscathed so far, losing running back Montee Ball to a groin injury, reports Chris Cwik of CBS Sports.
The Chargers have also experienced some key injuries despite building a big lead over the Jets. Tackle D.J. Fluker and receiver Malcolm Floyd have both left the game with lower leg injuries, and failed to return, reports Eric Williams of ESPN (via Twitter). Running back Donald Brown also left the game with a concussion, writes Michael Gehlken of the U-T San Diego (via Twitter).