Only strongside starter Marcus Washington had more tackles
the past two years than Marshall's 214 and only defensive end Renaldo Wynn
started more games than Marshall's 30.
However, Marshall is recuperating from surgery on a
dislocated left shoulder and might miss the June 16-18 veteran mini-camp,
though he's expected to be 100 percent when training camp opens on July 31. He
also had arthroscopic surgery on his knee this winter.
"I want to be out there as soon as I can, but I've
shown that I can play both positions," Marshall said. "I have a
contract. I don't feel the pressure that I might have felt in the past. You
want to be out there when you see other guys getting better, but you've got to
follow the right procedures so you don't have any setbacks."
Marshall was hurt late in the Jan. 1 victory at Philadelphia
that clinched Washington's first playoff berth in six years.
"I had enough strength that I could play through those
last couple of minutes," Marshall said. "I wasn't coming out of there
(during the playoffs). I knew it would take a while when they did the surgery.
That's what the off-season is for. The doctors don't want me in pads for
mini-camp. We'll just see how the shoulder progresses."
When he returns, Marshall will likely remain in the middle,
especially since the Redskins traded up to draft outside linebacker Rocky McIntosh with the 35th pick.
"Lemar worked very hard to learn the position,"
Lindsey said. "He could move back to the weak side, but then someone else
would have to learn all the calls. I like Lemar where he is."