McDaniels wouldn't directly address the reasons for his decision, though he mentioned accountability and said several other players will play Sunday with injuries worse than Marshall's. Marshall tweaked his right hamstring at practice Wednesday.
Marshall said he didn't want to get into a war of words, but he did note that McDaniels never played professionally to realize how difficult it is to compete while you're hurt.
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"Coach never played in the NFL," Marshall told reporters after the decision, according to KDVR-TV, Denver's Fox affiliate. "I'm going to handle this professionally."
The two had a rocky start together, culminating in Marshall's suspension during training camp for insubordination, but they had patched up their differences during the season.
Marshall had sat out practice for the second straight day Thursday with a strained right hamstring that he suffered running a route. McDaniels said Thursday he wasn't sure how serious the injury was.
Marshall was recently named to his second straight Pro Bowl honor and has caught at least 100 passes for three straight seasons.
There are at least 10 different scenarios that can allow the Broncos (8-7) to get into the postseason. The simplest is if two of these three lose: Baltimore, Pittsburgh and the Jets.
The Ravens travel to Oakland, while Pittsburgh plays in Miami and the Jets host AFC North champion Cincinnati.
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