Bears Blitz

Brandon Marshall Injury: Updates on Bears Star’s Ankle and Return

Published by Timothy Rapp on September 10, 2014
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Chicago Bears

Updates from Sunday, Sept. 14

The Chicago Bears confirmed that Brandon Marshall is active for Sunday night’s game:

Earlier ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that Marshall will play vs. San Francisco:

Originally, Schefter reported that there was doubt Marshall will play Sunday:

Updates from Friday, Sept. 12

Rich Campbell of the Chicago Tribune and Zach Zaidman of the Chicago Bears Radio Network provide updates on Marshall’s status:

Dan Wiederer of the Chicago Tribune has more on Marshall:

Updates from Thursday, Sept. 11

Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune reported on Marshall from Bears practice:

Following practice, Marshall spoke about his status, via Jeff Dickerson of ESPN and Adam Jahns and Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun-Times:

Later, head coach Marc Trestman commented on Marshall’s health, via Zaidman:

Original Text

In his two full seasons with the Chicago Bears, Marshall, 30, has registered at least 100 catches, 1,250 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns in each campaign. That run of production could be halted this year, however, as he missed practice Wednesday with an ankle injury.

Rich Campbell of the Chicago Tribune passed along the news of Marshall’s absence:

Despite sitting out practice, Marshall didn’t sound too concerned about missing any game action, according to Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun-Times: “After being hampered by a right ankle injury in the second half of Sunday’s loss to the Bills, wide receiver Brandon Marshall said Tuesday he will be ‘ready to play’ in the Bears’ Week 2 game against the 49ers.”

The combination of Marshall and Jay Cutler has been dynamic throughout the years, and losing Marshall for any amount of time would be a blow for the Bears.

Taking away the 2006 season (when neither player featured regularly for the Denver Broncos), Marshall has fared much better in seasons where he’s played on the same team as Cutler.

While wideout Alshon Jeffery (dealing with a hamstring injury himself), tight end Martellus Bennett and all-purpose back Matt Forte are all excellent options in the passing game, Marshall is the top gun in Chicago’s dangerous passing attack.

Last year alone, Marshall was targeted 163 times, fifth in the NFL, and that was with Cutler missing five games. The year before that, when Cutler played 15 games, Marshall tied for second in the NFL with a whopping 194 targets.

In fact, Marshall told NFL Media’s Michael Irvin that Cutler would be the league MVP this year, via NFL.com’s Marc Sessler.

With top targets Marshall and Jeffrey uncertainties heading into Week 2 at San Francisco, the 0-1 Bears will need Cutler, Bennett and free-agent pickup Santonio Holmes to carry the load offensively.