Vincent Brown's participation level has risen steadily during the Chargers' organized team activities. In the third week, it reached a new height.
The wide receiver mixed in with the starters Monday for the first time this offseason, rotating with Malcom Floyd opposite Danario Alexander. While too much can be made about a player's June practice reps, Brown is expected to see a pronounced role in his third season.
That role would have come in 2012 if not for an August broken ankle. The former third-round pick out of San Diego State missed the entire year with the preseason injury, but he is fully recovered now.
Coach Mike McCoy said he anticipates Brown will "without a doubt" be a big part of the team's offense.
"He's been great," McCoy said. "We laid out a plan for him early on, and he's one of those kids who want to go full speed, 100 miles per hour every play. So we were holding back a little bit when we first got on the field, and it's just a process we're going through to make sure we're doing the right thing with him. But he's on board 100 percent with us, and he's done a great job."
As the WR3 in 2011, Brown averaged 2.4-41-.25 in eight games, and posted a solid 1.12 fantasy points per target (FP/T). If he can beat out Malcom Floyd to be the Chargers' WR2, he will be a nice sleeper in the later rounds.
