When first approached Wednesday, Brandon Mebane didn’t want to discuss the specifics as to why he has been away from the Chargers.
A short time later, the veteran defensive tackle stood in front of his locker offering every detail he could think of concerning the battle being fought by his newborn daughter.
The desire to bring awareness to a rare condition called Trisomy 13 was why Mebane changed his mind, interested in advancing a quiet cause and aiding parents who could be experiencing what he has been going through since summer.
“It’s been a long, hard, pretty tough year for me,” he said.