Brandon Marshall remains in hospital, out indefinitely

SHARE Brandon Marshall remains in hospital, out indefinitely

The Bears’ locker room is about to be a very different place without the incomparable Brandon Marshall around or, at very least, as active. Coach Marc Trestman certainly knew that Friday.

“He has a special quality,” Trestman said. “He’s certainly one of the best communicators and charismatic guys we have on our football team. He brings life to everything that we do.”

And now the Bears’ outspoken and passionate receiver is out indefinitely. As of Friday afternoon, Marshall remained hospitalized with two fractured ribs and an injured lung, which he suffered Thursday night against the Dallas Cowboys.

The Bears wouldn’t confirm national reports that Marshall was treated for a collapsed lung, emphasizing only that he remains in the hospital specifically because of his injured lung. Officially, the Bears only ruled Marshall out for Dec. 4 against New Orleans Saints.

Trestman visited Marshall late Thursday after the Bears’ 41-28 loss against the Cowboys at Soldier Field.

“He was in very good spirits,” Trestman said. “He’s got some healing to do, obviously. … That’s all that we really talked about, was that he was going to be OK. He had a big smile on his face and really that was the extent of it.”

Marshall was injured making a 15-yard catch on fourth-and-seven from Dallas’ 30-yard line. Marshall was kneed hard to the right side of his back by safety Barry Church on a tackle. He was later transported to the hospital by ambulance at halftime.

It’s been a frustrating season for Marshall, who has dealt with right ankle issues since Week 1. Now, his impressive streak of seven consecutive seasons of surpassing 1,000 receiving yards is over.

Marshall’s 61 catches and 721 yards will be his lowest output since rookie season in 2006. His 13 games played this season also will be a new low for his career .

Marshall appeared to be having one of his best games of the season against the Cowboys, making three catches for 61 yards, including an extraordinary 42-yard one-handed grab, before getting injured.

“You could see it last night,” Trestman said. “He lifted our football team.”

Now, Marshall is just another lost starter to injury during a lost season. Second-year receiver Marquess Wilson is expected to take Marshall’s starting spot.

“[Marshall is] a big guy and has taken a lot of crazy hits over the years,” quarterback Jay Cutler said late Thursday. “He doesn’t stay down. So whenever he stays down, you know something is seriously wrong. We’re all worried about him. He’s our guy.”

The Latest
With Easter around the corner, chocolate makers and food businesses are feeling the impact of soaring global cocoa prices and it’s also hitting consumers.
Despite getting into foul trouble, which limited him to just six minutes in the second half, Shannon finished with 29 points, five rebounds and two assists.
Cowboy hats, bell-bottoms and boots were on full display Thursday night as fans lined up for the first of his three sold-out shows.
The incident occurred about 3:40 p.m. near Minooka. The horse was successfully placed back into the trailer, and the highway reopened about 40 minutes later. No injuries were reported.