Nose tackle Brandon Mebane earned a prestigious honor from his teammates as he was named the Chargers' 2017 Ed Block Courage Award winner. Annually, one player is chosen from each NFL team for the honor. The player is voted on by his teammates as someone who exemplifies "commitments to the principles of sportsmanship and courage."
"It's an honor," Mebane said. "There are a lot of guys on this team who deserve to win as well. It's truly an honor and I appreciate my teammates for considering me as the guy to get picked."
"Brandon Mebane symbolizes professionalism, strength and dedication," added Damon Mitchell, Chargers Head Athletic Trainer. "He exemplifies everything that the Ed Block Courage Award stands for. He works tirelessly for the children in our under privileged communities and instills in them the value that there is no obstacle too big to overcome. He embodies sportsmanship and courage on and off the field."
Mebane's triumphant return from a biceps injury suffered during the 2016 season earned him the honor. After going down in Week 10 against the Dolphins, Mebane made it his mission to return to form in 2017. He credits nutrition, prayer and getting a lot of rest as the keys to staying healthy this season.
"It was hard watching the team and not being able to contribute to help the team win," he said of being sidelined in 2016. "The hardest thing was sitting on the sidelines and watching."
In 2017, Mebane has notched 42 total tackles, one tackle for loss and two quarterback hits according to coaches' stats. While he's thrilled for what he's been able to already accomplish this season, he's more excited about what's to come in the final four weeks.
"It's a blessing to be a part of this organization and it's a blessing to be healthy and playing. It's something that I can sit back and tell my kids about one day, how we started and are now on our road to finishing and taking it one game at a time."
