SAN DIEGO -- A healthy scratch the first three games of the 2015 season, the San Diego Chargers finally executed what most fans considered a head scratcher to start the regular season.
They released running back Donald Brown, using the vacant roster spot to add guard Michael Ola from the practice squad to the active roster.
Brown was San Diego’s top free agent addition last year, signing a three-year, $10.4 million deal, including $4 million in guaranteed money. But he averaged just 2.6 yards per carry and missed three games due to a concussion.
The Chargers then drafted Melvin Gordon in the first round of this year’s draft, and some NFL observers believed the team would move on from Brown. Instead, the Chargers kept the University of Connecticut product on the final roster for Week 1, guaranteeing his $3 million salary for the 2015 season.
“He’s very smart in pass protection,” Chargers offensive coordinator Frank Reich said about Brown this week. “With a guy like Philip [Rivers], he understands what we’re doing. He sees it, he gets it. He truly is one of those guys who does a little of everything we ask him to do.”
Brown also was considered a veteran player who served as a mentor for Gordon in the film room and on the sideline.
That said, San Diego lacked depth on the offensive line and needed to add another body up front, with starters left tackle King Dunlap (concussion), left guard Orlando Franklin (ankle) and center Chris Watt (groin) all expected to miss Sunday’s game against the Cleveland Browns.
The Chargers add an experienced lineman in Ola. At 6-4 and 312 pounds, Ola started 12 games last season for the Chicago Bears at every position except center. Ola, 27, spent two seasons in the CFL with the Montreal Alouettes before joining the Bears in 2014.
The Chargers added Ola to the practice squad on Sept. 7.
“He’s done a nice job of learning the system as quickly as possible,” Chargers head coach Mike McCoy said about Ola. “He’s done a good job learning the way we want to do things here.”
With the addition of Ola, the Chargers should have eight healthy offensive linemen available on Sunday.
Projected starters are Chris Hairston at left tackle, Kenny Wiggins at left guard, Trevor Robinson at center, D.J. Fluker at right guard and Joe Barksdale at right tackle.
Recent addition J.D. Walton (center), Tyreek Burwell (tackle) and Ola will serve as the backups.
