When running back Malcolm Brown suffered a season-ending clavicle injury in December, head coach Sean McVay was pretty clear about how significant of a loss it was for the 2018 Rams.
Los Angeles had just clinched the NFC West, but McVay didn't really mince words when asked whether or not Brown's injury had a potential silver lining in that the team could see what it had in younger players in the lead up to the 2018 postseason.
"No, I don't think so," McVay said back on Dec. 3. "[Y]ou never want to lose a player like Malcolm. We still have a lot of important games."
McVay cited Brown's contributions not just to the offense, but also to special teams for why the Texas product was so important to the team.
Obviously, the Rams were able to overcome losing Brown with the signing of C.J. Anderson — who ended up being a vital piece in the run to Super Bowl LIII. But McVay's sentiments back in early December help explain why it's so significant that Los Angeles matched Brown’s offer sheet from Detroit last Friday.
As a restricted free agent, Brown had signed a two-year offer sheet with the Lions early last week. Via The Athletic, at this week’s owner’s meetings, Detroit general manager Bob Quinn said Brown was "really the type of player that we were invested in adding to the running back room. Thought he was young, thought he … was very reasonable for what we can fit into our budget at that spot."
Check out the best photos of the Rams running backs from the 2018 season.
Los Angeles Rams running back Todd Gurley (30) celebrates a touchdown during an NFL Divisional playoff game against the Dallas Cowboys on January 12th, 2019at the Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, Calif. (Hiro Ueno/Rams)
Los Angeles Rams running back Malcolm Brown (34) runs the ball during an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Nov. 11, 2018, in Los Angeles. (Hiro Ueno/Rams)
Running back (34) Malcolm Brown of the Los Angeles Rams scores a two point conversion against the Arizona Cardinals during the Rams 34-0 victory over the Cardinals in an NFL Week 2 football game, Sunday, September 16, 2018, in Los Angeles, CA. (Jeff Lewis/Rams)
Los Angeles Rams running back C.J. Anderson (35) runs the ball during the NFC Championship Game against the New Orleans Saints on January 20th, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Hiro Ueno/Rams)
Running-back #34 Malcolm Brown of the Los Angeles Rams during the Rams 54-51 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs in an NFL season game eleven match , on November 19, 2018. (Photo By: Daniel Bowyer / Rams)
Running-back #42 John John Kelly of the Los Angeles Rams during the 48-32 victory over the San Francisco 49ers in an NFL season game sixteen match , on December 30, 2018. (Photo By: Daniel Bowyer / Rams)
Running back (30) Todd Gurley of the Los Angeles Rams holds the George Halas Trophy in the locker room with (35) CJ Anderson and (42) John Kelly after the Rams 26-23 victory over the Saints in the NFC Championship Game, Sunday, January 20, 2019, in New Orleans, LA. (Jeff Lewis/Rams)
Los Angeles Rams running back Malcolm Brown (34) rushes the ball against the San Francisco 49ers during an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 21, 2018 (Hiro Ueno/Rams).
Running back (35) CJ Anderson of the Los Angeles Rams runs the ball against the New Orleans Saints during the Rams 26-23 victory over the Saints in the NFC Championship Game, Sunday, January 20, 2019, in New Orleans, LA. (Jeff Lewis/Rams)
Running back (34) Malcolm Brown of the Los Angeles Rams catches a pass and runs for a touchdown against the New Orleans Saints during the Rams 35-45 loss to the Saints in an NFL Week 9 regular season football game, Sunday, November 4, 2018, in New Orleans, LA. (Jeff Lewis/Rams)
Los Angeles Rams running back Justin Davis plays against the Minnesota Vikings during an NFL football game Thursday, Sept. 27, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Quarterback (16) Jared Goff passes the ball to Running back (34) Malcolm Brown of the Los Angeles Rams faces off against the Kansas City Chiefs on a Monday Night Football matchup at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, the Rams win 54-51 in an NFL Week 11 game, Monday, November 19, 2018, Los Angeles, CA. (Will Navarro/Rams)
Los Angeles Rams running back Todd Gurley (30) celebrates a touchdown during an NFL Football game against the Green Bay Packers, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018, in Los Angeles. (Hiro Ueno/Rams)
Running back (34) Malcolm Brown of the Los Angeles Rams catches a pass and runs for a touchdown and celebrates against the New Orleans Saints during the Rams 35-45 loss to the Saints in an NFL Week 9 regular season football game, Sunday, November 4, 2018, in New Orleans, LA. (Jeff Lewis/Rams)
Running back (33) Justin Davis of the Los Angeles Rams against the Seattle Seahawks during the Rams 33-31 victory over the Seahawks in an NFL Week 5 football game at CenturyLink Field, Sunday, October 7, 2018, in Seattle, WA. (Jeff Lewis/Rams)
Los Angeles Rams running back Todd Gurley (30) runs the ball in for a touchdown during an NFL game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday December 16th, 2018 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, Calif. (Hiro Ueno/NFL)
Los Angeles Rams running back Todd Gurley (30) celebrates a touchdown against the San Francisco 49ers during an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 21, 2018 (Hiro Ueno/Rams).
Running back Todd Gurley of the Los Angeles Rams catches a pass and runs for a touchdown against the Green Bay Packers during the Rams 29-27 victory over the Packers in an NFL Week 8 regular season football game, Sunday, October 28, 2018, in Los Angeles, CA. (Jeff Lewis/Rams)
Running back (30) Todd Gurley of the Los Angeles Rams runs the ball and scores a touchdown against the Denver Broncos during the Rams 23-20 victory over the Broncos in an NFL Week 6 football game, Sunday, October 14, 2018, in Denver, CO. (Jeff Lewis/Rams)
Running back #30 Todd Gurley of The Los Angeles Rams celebrates after a touchdown during the 33-31 victory over the Seattle Seahawks in an NFL season game five match, at CenturyLink field, on October 7, 2018, in Seattle Washington. (Daniel Bowyer/Rams)
Running back #30 Todd Gurley of The Los Angeles Rams celebrates after a touchdown during the 33-31 victory over the Seattle Seahawks in an NFL season game five match, at CenturyLink field, on October 7, 2018, in Seattle Washington. (Daniel Bowyer/Rams)
Running-back #42 John John Kelly of the Los Angeles Rams during the 48-32 victory over the San Francisco 49ers in an NFL season game sixteen match , on December 30, 2018. (Photo By: Daniel Bowyer / Rams)
Los Angeles Rams running back Todd Gurley (30) celebrates a touchdown catch with fans during an NFL Week 4 Football game against the Minnesota Vikings. The Thursday Night Football game was simulcast on NFL Network, FOX, and Amazon Prime Video at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, Calif. on September 27th, 2018 (Hiro Ueno/Rams).
Running back (30) Todd Gurley of the Los Angeles Rams runs the ball for a touchdown and celebrates against the Seattle Seahawks during the Rams 33-31 victory over the Seahawks in an NFL Week 5 football game at CenturyLink Field, Sunday, October 7, 2018, in Seattle, WA. (Jeff Lewis/Rams)
Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay and running back C.J. Anderson (35) celebrate a touchdown during an NFL Divisional playoff game against the Dallas Cowboys on January 12th, 2019at the Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, Calif. (Hiro Ueno/Rams)
Los Angeles Rams running back C.J. Anderson (35) celebrates with running back Todd Gurley (30) during an NFL divisional football playoff game against the Dallas Cowboys Saturday, Jan. 12, 2019, in Los Angeles (Jacob Gonzalez via AP)
Los Angeles Rams running back John Kelly (42), running back Todd Gurley (30), running back Malcolm Brown (34), and running back Justin Davis (33) make their way through the tunnel prior to an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Nov. 11, 2018, in Los Angeles. (Hiro Ueno/Rams)
Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jared Goff (16), wide receiver Brandin Cooks (12) and running back C.J. Anderson (35) celebrate a touchdown during an NFL Divisional playoff game against the Dallas Cowboys on January 12th, 2019at the Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, Calif. (Hiro Ueno/Rams)
Los Angeles Rams running back Malcolm Brown (34), running back Todd Gurley (30), and running back John Kelly (42) prior to an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers on 9/23/18 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, Calif. (Rams/Hiro Ueno)
Running back (30) Todd Gurley and Running back (35) C.J. Anderson of the Los Angeles Rams takes a moment to enjoy their victory against the San Francisco 49ers at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, the Rams win 48-32 in an NFL Week 17 game, Sunday, December 30, 2018, Los Angeles, CA. (Will Navarro/Rams)
Running back (30) Todd Gurley of the Los Angeles Rams arrives at the stadium in the locker room with (42) John Kelly and (33) Justin Davis before the Rams 26-23 victory over the New Orleans Saints in the NFC Championship Game, Sunday, January 20, 2019, in New Orleans, LA. (Jeff Lewis/Rams)
Running back (35) CJ Anderson of the Los Angeles Rams runs the ball for a touchdown and celebrates against the San Francisco 49ers during the Rams 48-32 victory over the 49ers in an NFL Week 17 regular season football game, Sunday, December 30, 2018, in Los Angeles, CA. (Jeff Lewis/Rams)
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Robert Woods (17), running back C.J. Anderson (35), and wide receiver Josh Reynolds (83) celebrate a touchdown during an NFL Divisional playoff game against the Dallas Cowboys on January 12th, 2019at the Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, Calif. (Hiro Ueno/Rams)
That offer, however, was apparently good enough to fit into the Rams' budget for the next two years as well — since Los Angeles exercised its right of first refusal on any Brown contract offer and kept him in Southern California.
As the roster stands with three weeks to go before the start of the offseason program, Brown slots in for 2019 just as he did for 2018 — as the Rams' backup running back behind Todd Gurley. That's a role at which Brown excelled in 2018, averaging 4.9 yards per carry and 10.4 yards per reception in his fairly limited offensive snaps. At the time of his season-ending injury, Brown was playing about 15 percent of the time to Gurley's 85 percent. And even though Brown didn't play the last four regular-season games, he still was on the field for a total of 11.2 percent of Los Angeles' offensive snaps in 2018.
Plus Brown was in for 27.8 percent of Los Angeles' total special teams plays — a pretty high percentage considering he missed four games.
So going into the 2019 season, there's a good chance Brown could expand his role on offense, as both McVay and general manager Les Snead have said that the Rams would like to monitor Gurley's snaps more in this upcoming season to lessen the wear and tear on his body. And if Brown can continue at the pace he was on last season — when he was a bruising back that didn't let defenses get a chance to breathe just because Gurley was on the sidelines — that's good news for Los Angeles' offense.
There's also a chance that either John Kelly or Justin Davis could expand their respective roles, depending on their progress in the offseason program. Snead mentioned earlier this month that there's a place in McVay's offense for more of a hybrid-type running back that has not been utilized much in the head coach's first two seasons in Los Angeles. If that were to happen, it could further lessen the burden on Gurley to carry as much of the load at the position as he has over the last few years.
Brown's return, however, would appear to make Anderson's return to the club a bit more unlikely — given the similarity of their respective roles on the offense. However, with the beginning of the offseason program still weeks away — not to mention that the beginning of the season is still over five months away — there's a lot of time for something on that front to change in preparation for 2019.
