Vincent Brown Could Return To Chargers For Second Half Of Season

Vincent Brown crushed the hopes of many San Diego Chargers fans when he went down with a broken ankle Saturday, but there now appears to be a ray of hope for fans.

NFL.com reported that the promising young wide receiver could return for the second half of the NFL season, and that the Chargers are likely to keep him on the roster until then rather than sending him to injured reserve.

Fans were given a promising initial assessment, as early reports had Vincent Brown out for about eight weeks, but the revised timeline would have him out 10 weeks if he returns by the team’s Week 9 matchup with the Kansas City Chiefs.

Kevin Acee of U-T San Diego reported on Sunday that Vincent Brown most likely suffered slight ligament damage. along with the broken angle Brown underwent surgery on Sunday, fellow U-T San Diego reporter Michael Gehlken noted.

The injury came while Vincent Brown was making a touchdown catch in the team’s game against the Dallas Cowboys on Saturday night.

Brown didn’t rack up huge numbers as a rookie — he had 19 catches for 329 yards and two touchdowns in 2011 — but he played better as the season went on. In a two-game stretch during the latter half of last season Vincent Brown caught 5 passes for 97 yards and a touchdown against Oakland and 4 for 79 yards the next week against Green Bay. The Chargers lost both games.

Vincent Brown has been impressive during the offseason and in training camp, and throughout the preseason he has outplayed veteran free-agent pickup Robert Meachem.

“This is big,” one Chargers veteran told Kevin Acee. “He’s our best receiver.”

Vincent Brown is expected back sometime in November.