Chargers place WR Vincent Brown on short-term injured reserve

One of the new additions to the NFL this year is the short-term injured reserve. In the past, a player placed on IR was automatically out for the season. With the short-term IR, players must miss at least six weeks of practice and can return to the active roster eight weeks from the time they were placed on IR.
That's what the San Diego Chargers did with wide receiver Vincent Brown on Tuesday. They put Brown on injured reserve/designated to return. Brown broke his left ankle Aug. 18 when an Oakland Raiders player fell on him while Brown was catching a touchdown.

Fantasy Analysis:

Losing Brown hasn't been a big story, but I think it's a big loss for the Chargers. You never know with Antonio Gates' feet, and Robert Meachem looked a little lost during the preseason. The Chargers said a couple of weeks ago that they had planned to feature Brown on offense, and I think he is their second-best wide receiver behind Meachem. Having him out for half of the year is going to hurt this entire offense, especially Philip Rivers, whom I have shied away from in most drafts.