The Los Angeles Rams announced they have matched the Detroit Lions offer sheet to running back Malcolm Brown, signing him to a two-year contract worth an estimated $3 million.
Brown originally signed with the Rams as an undrafted free agent out of Texas in 2015. In four seasons with the team, Brown has carried the ball 128 times for 514 yards and a touchdown, adding 18 receptions for 149 yards and a touchdown.
Emerging as the primary backup to Todd Gurley, Brown had a career-year in 2018, averaging 4.9 yards per carry. He totaled 212 yards on 43 carries in 12 games.
His 2018 season was cut short after suffering a season-ending clavicle injury in Week 13 in Detroit, forcing him to miss their postseason run. The team then signed C.J. Anderson to replace him, and Anderson thrived in his short time in Los Angeles.
Brown has also been a key special team piece for the Rams the last few years and will likely assume his role as primary kick returner in 2019.
With Brown coming back for two more years, that likely rules the Rams out as an option for Anderson in free agency. He expressed interest in coming back after having so much success in 2018, but recently said that the Rams had not offered him any sort of contract.
