Brandon Marshall hasn't missed a start this season despite the nagging ankle injury he suffered in the season opener. A lesser man would have missed plenty.
The Chicago Bears wide receiver on Thursday acknowledged that he should have sat out the past four weeks with the setback, but convinced team officials each time that was healthy enough to suit up.
"I can't just sit on the sideline and watch the guys have fun and battle together," Marshall said, per the Chicago Sun-Times. "It's just not in my blood."
Said Marshall: "The first two weeks, the doctors ruled me out. They said I wasn't going to play and I went to them and said, 'Just make it a game-time decision.' I thought that with some adrenaline I'd be able to go. I was able to help the team out, pull some coverage and get Martellus (Bennett) and Alshon (Jeffery) 1-on-1 matchups. Get Matt Forte some seven-man boxes."
Coach Marc Trestman told reporters said that over "the last 10 days or two weeks of practice," Marshall "looks to be at full strength." His production, though -- 19 catches for 188 yards -- is far off pace from the 31 grabs and 378 yards he tallied over the first five games of last season.
A fully operational Marshall would be a godsend for Trestman's 17th-ranked offense.
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