There is a nagging suspicion, sometimes rising to the level of outright conviction, that Indianapolis Colts running back has been a “bust” during his four seasons in the Circle City. To be sure, Brown has not really lived up to the standards set by the gents who came before him in the Horseshoe backfield, namely Joseph Addai, Edgerrin James and Marshall Faulk, and he was tasked with that assignment when the Colts took him in the first round of the 2009 NFL draft. In truth, though, Brown has turned into a solid back over the last couple of seasons and has shown signs of being a decent complementary player. Unfortunately for him and his employers, Brown won’t get the chance to build on his Colts career until at least next fall, if ever. On December 11, the Colts placed Brown on the injured reserve list, ending his season and maybe his tenure in Indy.
After a disappointing rookie season and a sophomore campaign that featured only marginal improvement, Brown developed into one of the few decent aspects of the Colts’ lost 2011. Despite playing for a woebegone team that lost its leader (Peyton Manning) and nearly all of its games, Brown managed to rack up 4.8 yards per carry en route to 645 total rushing yards. That performance had many Colts followers thinking that Brown just might develop into a featured back after all, and he looked to have a decent hold on the starting job as the 2012 season dawned. Although rookie Vick Ballard made a strong showing from the get-go this year, Brown continued his improved play and managed to pick up 417 yards in the team’s first 12 games while splitting duties with Ballard. All the while, his inability to really seize control of the job let us all harbor some doubts about his future.
After injuring his ankle two weeks ago and missing the Colts’ game against the Titans, those whispers of uncertainty became shouts, and the IR news makes it hard to imagine how Brown will find his way back into the Colts lineup. Ballard seems to get a little better every week and these Colts are maturing very fast under quarterback Andrew Luck. By the time Brown is even eligible to return, it’s very likely that his teammates will have been through their first playoff run, however long it may turn out to be. There will be a (sorta) new coach in town, too, as the ailing Chuck Pagano should be back on the sidelines any day now.
Will there be room for a rehabbed Donald Brown in the Colts’ new world order of 2013? My seers think its a long shot.
Adam Hughes was raised, and still lives, in rural Indiana. He has been a Colts fans since the team arrived in Indianapolis on a snowy morning in 1984. The Blue and White eventually replaced the Chicago Bears as his #1 team, and Super Bowl XLI was a dream come true.
