Chargers Notebook: Injuries, roster shuffle create opportunities

Injuries and roster moves will create opportunities for reserves, new faces Sunday against the Bengals.

By Dan McLellan

Nov 28, 2012 at 9:32 pm ET • 3 min read

Chargers SS Atari Bigby’s groin injury set off a series of moves. (US Presswire)

The Chargers (4-7) reported nine injuries following their 16-13 loss in overtime to the Ravens (9-2) on Sunday. SS Atari Bigby (groin) was placed on the season ending reserve-injured list Tuesday. This set off a series of moves that will lead to playing time starting this Sunday vs. the Bengals (6-5) for some returning faces and for a few who have yet to contribute.

LB Bront Bird (6-foot-4, 250 pounds) was re-signed to replace Bigby on the 53-man roster. Bird made the Chargers in 2011 as an undrafted free agent out of Texas Tech. He played in nine games and had seven tackles on defense and eight on special teams. Bird was released in the final round of cuts before the start of this season. Bird may see some playing time on defense because he is a utility linebacker that can play several positions but will most likely make an immediate impact on special teams.

ILB Jonas Mouton (second round, 2011) is expected to see his first action due to an injury to ILB Donald Butler (groin). Mouton had a solid rookie training camp before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury in the final preseason game. He played well again in training camp this year but has been a victim of numbers and has yet to make a game-day active roster.

SS Brandon Taylor (round three, 73rd overall) is also expected to be game-day active for the first time due to the injury to Bigby. Taylor will share reps with S Corey Lynch, who filled in for Bigby on Sunday after he was injured.

WR-KR Micheal Spurlock (5-11, 210) was signed off waivers from the Jaguars on Wednesday. Spurlock is expected to contribute immediately as a kick returner.

San Diego originally signed Spurlock in April and he played in the Chargers' first four games before being released on Oct. 3 to make room for CB Chris Carr. Spurlock later signed with Jacksonville, where he remained until being waived on Tuesday. Before being released by the Chargers, Spurlock had one punt return and a tackle on special teams.

RB Curtis Brinkley was waived to make room for Spurlock. Brinkley started returning kicks after WR-KR Richard Goodman (hamstring) was placed on the reserved-injured list on October 29.

The departure of Brinkley will have an emotional impact on the locker room. Brinkley came to the Chargers as an undrafted free agent in 2009. He returned home to Philadelphia after OTAs, where he was shot three times in the chest as he sat in his car waiting to pick up his sister after work. Brinkley made the practice squad and eventually the active roster in 2010 and has played with a bullet lodged an inch from his heart.

This season, Brinkley rushed 29 times for 60 yards, including one start at RB. He caught nine passes for 63 yards and returned four kickoffs for 86 yards.

S Sean Cattouse, an undrafted rookie from California-Berkeley, was also signed Tuesday. Cattouse fills a vacancy on the practice squad created by the call up of OT Kevin Haslam to the 53-man active roster on Saturday. Cattouse was in training camp with the team this year.

Injury Report: ILB Butler (groin), WR Eddie Royal (hamstring) and S Darrell Stuckey (hamstring) did not participate. OLB Antwan Barnes (hamstring), OLB Larry English (calf), G Tyronne Green (hamstring), TE Dante Rosario (hamstring) and S Eric Weddle (concussion) were limited. WR Danario Alexander (thigh), RT Jeromey Clary (thigh), DE Corey Liuget (tibia), P Mike Scifres (right ankle) fully participated. Alexander, Barnes, Butler, Clary, Liuget, Stuckey and Weddle were new additions to the injury report following Sunday’s game. Antonio Garay (thigh) was listed on the injury report following the game but fully participated in practice on Wednesday and was not listed on the report.