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INDIANAPOLIS – Rookie running back Donald Brown has been staking a claim for a starting job with the undefeated Colts, but his mood was sobered Wednesday.
He’s trying to recover from an injured shoulder, for one thing. And two days after getting a career-long 45-yard run in a 42-6 victory over St. Louis, Brown on Monday attended the funeral of Jasper Howard, his former teammate at the University of Connecticut who was slain Oct. 18.
Howard, a 20-year-old cornerback, was stabbed on campus, hours after a victory over Louisville.
“It’s a shame,” Brown said. “It’s not the way things are supposed to be. Parents aren’t supposed to bury their children. It’s a shame. But they’re honoring him, and they’ll never forget him. Jasper was a special kid.”
Howard’s funeral was in Miami on the heels of UConn’s emotional 28-24 loss at West Virginia.
“You reflect and realize how precious life is and you never know when your time is up,” Brown said. “It can happen to anybody, and you have to make the most of everything and appreciate the ones that love you and you love the most.
“(Howard) was a great kid, a great person, always had a smile on his face. He wasn’t the biggest guy on the field, but he had one of the biggest hearts.”
Brown said there has been a sense of relief for the Huskies and Howard’s family in light of Tuesday’s arrest of three people in connection with the murder.
Two were arraigned Wednesday in Rockville Superior Court in Vernon, Conn. John William Lomax III, 21, is charged with murder while his friend and co-worker, 20-year-old Hakim Muhammad, is charged with conspiracy to commit assault. Jamal Todd of Hartford faces a felony charge of falsely reporting an incident and misdemeanor reckless endangerment for allegedly pulling a fire alarm that emptied the dance. Police have not discussed a motive, and the investigators’ affidavits and arrest warrants are sealed.
“(The police) think they have a pretty good lead on everything, and people are happy that justice is being served,” Brown said. “But you just think, ‘How could somebody possibly do that to somebody else?’ ”
Brown has rushed for 212 yards and two touchdowns on 46 carries. Starting running back Joseph Addai has 274 yards and four touchdowns on 82 carries heading into Sunday’s home game against the San Francisco 49ers (3-3).
Despite straining his shoulder against the Rams, an aggravation of an injury he had in college, Brown is confident he will play.
“My mind-set is that I’m playing this weekend,” Brown said. “I’m out here, rehabbing and getting my shoulder ready to go.”
His coach, Jim Caldwell, wasn’t as optimistic.
“As coaches, we love to hear that, but the realistic side is I’m not certain. Today, it would be wishful thinking, to be honest with you,” Caldwell said. “He’s going to have to nurse that shoulder a little bit. The doctors are looking at him closely, and it depends on how quickly he comes along. We’ll have to wait and see.”
Caldwell also said it’s unclear whether receivers Reggie Wayne (groin) or Anthony Gonzalez (knee) will play.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
