There is no such thing as "minor" hip surgery, just like there is no such thing as "minor" back surgery. When an NFL player undergoes a hip procedure, it's fair to wonder about the long-term effects.
That's why we'll be watching Brandon Marshall closely in training camp this offseason. The Chicago Bears' entire passing game wide receiver underwent arthroscopic hip surgery in January and was sidelined for nearly all of the offseason.
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Marshall now has undergone three hip surgeries in his career. His quick comeback from the previous two provides hope that he'll be good as new. But it's also worth wondering about the cumulative effect of all those surgeries on a player approaching 30. Kellen Winslow's recurring knee surgeries eventually caught up to him.
Marshall, like Anquan Boldin, hardly relies on his long speed to make plays. His game is about physical runs after the catch and contested grabs. The Bears don't want to rely as heavily on Marshall this season, but he's still the best receiver on the Bears by a huge margin. They can't afford for Marshall's hip to be a long-term issue.
Follow Gregg Rosenthal on Twitter @greggrosenthal.
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