Dec. 09--The Bears placed receiver Brandon Marshall on injured reserve Monday, ending his 2014 season.
Marshall was discharged from Northwestern Memorial Hospital on Sunday, three days after he fractured two ribs and injured a lung during the Bears' 41-28 loss to the Cowboys. Marshall's extended hospitalization, the team said, was for additional treatment to his lung injury, the specifics of which have not been revealed.
Marshall suffered the injury late in the first half of Thursday's game when he took a knee to the back from Cowboys safety Barry Church after a 15-yard reception.
He will miss the Bears' final three games after starting 45 consecutive games since joining the team in 2012. In 13 games this season, he had 61 catches, 721 yards and eight touchdowns.
Marshall entered the year with a streak of seven consecutive 1,000-yard seasons, averaging 99 catches, 1,249 yards and eight touchdowns from 2007 to 2013 with the Broncos, Dolphins and Bears.
Opportunity knocks: With Marshall sidelined, second-year receiver Marquess Wilson is preparing for a heightened role in the final three games.
Wilson suffered a broken collarbone during training camp and didn't play until Week 11. In four games, he has played 196 snaps at receiver with just five catches for 40 yards.
Coach Marc Trestman said he's eager to track Wilson's progress and his chemistry with quarterback Jay Cutler in the season's final month.
"He's had a lot of practice time with Jay, certainly over the last few weeks and early in training camp obviously," Trestman said. "I'm excited about seeing where Marquess goes over the next few weeks."
Next man up: Undrafted rookie Ryan Groy is in line to become the Bears' fourth starter at left guard this season when they face the Saints on Monday. Groy played 41 snaps against the Cowboys last week, called on to relieve struggling Michael Ola in the second half.
Six of Ola's nine starts have come at left guard. Brian de la Puente made two starts there. And opening-day starter Matt Slauson played in Weeks 1, 5, 6, 7 and 8 before going on injured reserve with a torn pectoral muscle.
Groy, a four-year starter at Wisconsin, practiced with the starters Monday.
"I'm absolutely ready," he said. "Even when I was on the practice squad, I prepared like I was going to play. ... I just wanted to be ready for the worst-case scenario."
Extra points: Kicker Jay Feely was still with the Bears on Monday, serving as a fill-in until Robbie Gould can fully recover from a quadriceps injury that kept him out against the Cowboys. ... The Bears promoted receiver Josh Bellamy to the 53-man roster off the practice squad and signed former Illinois linebacker Jonathan Brown to the practice squad.
Tribune reporter Brad Biggs contributed.
