Vincent Brown out again today with calf injury

Oct 14, 2013; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Chargers receiver Vincent Brown (86) has a pass broken up by Indianapolis Colts corner back Greg Toler (28) during the first half at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

Coming off team’s off day, #Chargers WR Vincent Brown (calf) isn’t practicing. Sidelined since warmups Fri.

— Tom Krasovic (@UTkrasovic) July 30, 2014

Vincent Brown has been sidelined with a calf injury since Friday afternoon. Vincent has had trouble staying on the field since his junior year at SDSU. He was able to stay on the field for all 16 games last season, but failed to make a significant impact. He put up only 41 catches for 471 yards and 1 TD in 16 games.

The return of Malcom Floyd back and the emergence of Keenan Allen should account for the top two spots at the receiver position. Slot man Eddie Royal and the addition of potential roster spot thieves Tevin Reese, Dontrelle Inman, and Seyi Ajirotutu also really heat up that position battle for Brown, who is in a contract year.

While the fight on the field is bound to put some pressure on Brown, so is the business side of the game. In Brown’s last season under his rookie contract, he is slated to count over $1,577,000 against the cap – compared to the $701,000 he counted against the cap last year. (Over the Cap) To put that into perspective, the ex-3rd rounder will be making more than Jason Verrett, Kellen Clemens, Manti Te’o, Shareece Wright, Jerry Attaochu, Ladarius Green, AND Keenan Allen.

It seems to me that if Vincent Brown doesn’t get healthy and turn it up for the rest of training camp and through the pre-season, he is a very legitimate candidate to be a last round roster cut – especially in Inman, Reese, or Tutu show TT and Coach McCoy enough production and versatility to make the 53-man roster. That extra cap space could be just what TT needs to add another late-free agency contributor a la Freeney, Flowers, Lissemore, etc…

Even if Brown does just that, he has a long way to go to prove that he is deserving of a new contract.