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Chargers RB Donald Brown listed as probable; Ryan Mathews practices for first time since Week 2



The Chargers' RB corps is getting healthier. Donald Brown is expected to play for the first time in four weeks after finally gaining clearance following a Week 5 concussion. Also, Ryan Mathews practiced on Friday, the first time he's gone that since spraining the MCL in his right knee back in Week 2. However, Mathews will not play this Sunday versus the Dolphins. Undrafted rookie Branden Oliver will continue get about 20 or so touches. The Chargers have their bye in Week 10.



After that bye, things could get interesting here. Mathews should be ready to roll by then, but Oliver has performed well in his stead. He's had a couple of mediocre outputs against tough defenses recently, but here are his averages over the past four games: 23 touches, 112 yards from scrimmage, 4.4 yards per carry. He has also scored three times. Does this become a timeshare in Week 11? I doubt it. I think Mathews will be reinstalled as the leader, but I do think Oliver will own the snaps on third downs and passing downs -- he has 21 receptions in the past five games. Mathews will still be a nice RB2, but he probably won't look like the workhorse we saw last season.Brown's return shouldn't frighten Oliver owners. He'll take over for Ronnie Brown as the change-of-pace back and not do much else. He's been pretty awful as is, averaging just 2.1 yards per tote. Oliver is in line for another heavy workload tomorrow and should be considered a top-15 RB for one more week.