Chargers NT Mebane out for season with torn biceps

SAN DIEGO (AP) Chargers nose tackle Brandon Mebane will miss the rest of the season with a torn biceps.

Mebane was hurt in Sunday's 31-24 home loss to the Miami Dolphins, which dropped San Diego to 4-6.

He joins a growing list of Chargers lost for the season, including wide receivers Keenan Allen and Stevie Johnson, running back Danny Woodhead, linebacker Manti Te'o and cornerback Jason Verrett.

Mebane signed as a free agent in the offseason after spending the previous nine years with Seattle.

The Chargers raved about Mebane's leadership qualities

''Brandon is just a guy that's excited about playing football. He plays at a high level every week,'' defensive lineman Damion Square said Monday. ''Just to have a guy who comes from that caliber of program to come down here and give us a taste of it, because from the outside looking in you always wondered what it is that made those guys play like that in Seattle and just to get a guy from that group to come down here and give us a taste of that, I think you can see it in our defensive front.''

Philip Rivers threw four interceptions during a 13-minute span in the fourth quarter Sunday, including one that was returned 60 yards by Kiko Alonso for the winning touchdown with 61 seconds left.

The Chargers have their bye this weekend.

Players had meetings on Monday and then coach Mike McCoy is giving them the rest of the week off.

''It's a well-deserved break,'' McCoy said. ''The players have worked extremely hard and given everything they've got up until this point. I thought they deserved some time away.''

The Chargers, who have lost 12 of their last 14 road games, visit Houston on Nov. 27.

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