The wide receiver had one of his least productive years as the team struggled to a 5-11 record while dealing with injuries, in-fighting and ugly losses.

”The best way I can describe it is, having a diaper on and never changing it,” he said during Showtime’s ”Inside The NFL” on Tuesday. ”And just sitting in that diaper the whole year. That’s how our year was. It was a bad year.”

Big things were expected from the Jets after they went 10-6 in Todd Bowles’ first season as coach, finishing a win shy of the playoffs. But New York got off to a 1-5 start and Ryan Fitzpatrick struggled mightily, including throwing six interceptions in a loss at Kansas City in Week 3.

That was when Marshall said he first had ”a feeling of shock.” He and defensive lineman Sheldon Richardson also had a locker-room tiff during that game that also was the beginning of some strife within the team that became an underlying theme for much of the season.

”We understood the challenges that we were going to face with the tough schedule, the toughest schedule in all of football, probably,” Marshall said. ”We thought that we would have a top-5 defense. We thought that our offense will be better because it was our second year around. We had amazing chemistry the year before, broke a lot of records and did some amazing things.

”So, I felt like that was the game we were like, `Wow. Maybe we aren’t as good as we thought we were.'”

Fitzpatrick, who threw a franchise-record 31 touchdowns last season, ended up getting benched twice. Marshall, who set team marks with 109 catches and 1,502 yards receiving, finished with just 59 receptions for 788 yards.

The wide receiver was also at the center of some of the locker-room tensions, trying to rally the team with some tough talk – but having it irritate some teammates.

”This year, for me, it was my delivery and timing,” Marshall said of what he learned this season. ”And my timing was bad at times. Meaning that, after a loss, that is not always the best time to address some tough issues. Sometimes you have to wait until Monday morning or Tuesday morning to have those types of conversations. So, I learned my lessons, some things blew up on my face. I’ll take that. I’ll chalk it up.

”And I will be a better person next year.”

Marshall added that he was ”very disappointed” about recent criticisms by Richardson, but added that he has ”no ill will toward Sheldon. That’s my teammate. I think he is a hell of a player.”

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The Jets (3-9) take their four-game losing streak to the Bay Area on Sunday when they will face a 49ers team on an even longer skid.

San Francisco (1-11) has lost a franchise-record 11 straight games since a season-opening win over the Rams.

”One of the things we always talk about with sports is it teaches us certain life lessons and it brings out the best in us or exposes the worst in us,” Jets receiver Brandon Marshall said.

”This is a great season for both teams to really mature and grow not only as a team and organization but also as men.”

In a season of ineptitude for both teams, last week might have marked new lows for both. New York was thoroughly embarrassed on the national stage Monday night in a 41-10 loss to Indianapolis that left coach Todd Bowles repeatedly saying ”they kicked our asses.”

Things weren’t any better for the Niners, who went into the snow in Chicago and lost 26-6 to a Bears team that had won only twice previously all season.

Quarterback Colin Kaepernick was pulled in the fourth quarter after completing just one pass all game and taking six sacks and San Francisco’s porous defense was carved up by third-string quarterback Matt Barkley.

Now both teams are playing out the string with the Jets turning to Bryce Petty as starting quarterback for the final four games and Kaepernick back as starter in San Francisco.

”I think the game is the easy part,” Marshall said. ”When you’re having a season like this, Sundays are easy. It’s the work you have to put in leading up to Sunday that makes it harder.”

This week was especially tough for the Niners. Coach Chip Kelly left the team for a few days this week to be with his family following the death of his father , Paul.

Kelly attended the funeral in Maine on Tuesday before returning for practice Wednesday as coordinators Jim O’Neill on defense and Curtis Modkins on offense led the team in his absence.

”Obviously we want to win for ourselves because it’s been way too long but when something like that happens, you know what it would mean to him and his family,” receiver Torrey Smith said.

Here are some other things to watch:

PETTY’S READY: Petty, a fourth-rounder from Baylor last year, will make his second NFL start , but first since Bowles tapped him to be the Jets’ quarterback for the final four games of the season. Petty went 11 of 25 for 135 yards with a TD and two interceptions Monday in relief of Ryan Fitzpatrick.

”Things to learn from,” Petty said. ”I did some good things, did some things that I want back. Second time being there in live action. As far as an overall grade, it’s kind of tough to say. Whether it’s A, B, or C or anything like that. You just have to continue to grow.”

KAP REGRESSES: After the most productive four-game stretch of his career as a passer, Kaepernick took a major step backward in Chicago .

Kaepernick went just 1 for 5 for 4 yards, while taking five sacks for 25 yards. Kaepernick had played well before that, throwing for 1,110 yards in his previous four games, the most of any four-game stretch of his career. He threw eight touchdowns and two interceptions, good for a passer rating of 96.0, with 223 yards rushing.

STILL GOING: Jets running back Matt Forte needs 60 yards from scrimmage to reach 1,100 for the ninth consecutive season.

Forte, who turns 31 Saturday, would become the fifth running back in NFL history to begin his career with that many, joining Barry Sanders, Emmitt Smith, Curtis Martin and Ricky Watters. Forte is 12th in the NFL with 784 yards rushing, and has 29 catches for 256 yards this season, his first with the Jets.

FLAG DAY: After being the least-penalized team in the league in the first seven games with just 31 infractions, the 49ers have been on the wrong side of the NFL law of late. San Francisco’s 46 penalties over the past five weeks are the most in the league and a major concern for Kelly.

”We have to do a good job as a coaching staff of emphasizing and understand of how much of an impact those penalties and that penalty yardage can have on us,” Kelly said.

CLOUDY MEMORIES: Marshall’s first game at Levi’s Stadium was memorable for everybody but him. Marshall caught three TD passes for Chicago in a 28-20 win in 2014 in the first regular-season game at the stadium. Marshall said he doesn’t remember much from that game because he was on painkillers for a high ankle sprain.

”I just remember catching those balls,” he said. ”That was pretty much it.”

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AP Sports Writer Dennis Waszak Jr. contributed to this report

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Marshall has been dealing with a sore foot for a few weeks. Mangold sprained his right ankle against Baltimore last Sunday and was walking gingerly through the locker room Wednesday with the ankle wrapped.

Also sitting out of practice were defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson (ankle), running back Bilal Powell (turf toe), left tackle Ryan Clady (shoulder), linebacker Bruce Carter (quadriceps), tight end Kellen Davis (hip), linebacker Darron Lee (ankle), offensive tackle Brent Qvale (neck), cornerback Buster Skrine (knee) and tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins (ankle).

Defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson was excused from practice for a personal matter.

Running back Matt Forte (knee), CB Darrelle Revis (ankle) and safety Antonio Allen (Achilles) were limited.

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Marshall led the Broncos with 111 tackles last year despite being hobbled down the stretch by a right foot injury that required offseason surgery.

Because he didn’t have the operation until March, he’ll have to play the whole season before surgeons can remove hardware in his right foot, meaning he’ll have to manage some pain along the way.

He said his foot feels fine so far, but the pain he’s dealing with now is the grief over his grandfather’s death.

Little Roy Williams, 88, died on July 7 after contracting pneumonia following surgery, Marshall said.

”He had an uncle named Big,” Marshall said, ”so they named him Little.”

Marshall’s mother, Barbara, is the youngest of a dozen children: ”My mom, she’s a daddy’s girl, so we were always at his house,” Marshall said. ”He was just like a father to me.”

After attending the funeral, Marshall retreated to Miami, where he got a tattoo on his left pectoral in honor of his grandfather, who was a carpenter.

It depicts a hammer and nails, one of them ”piercing” his chest and drawing a trickle of ”blood.”

”He’s on my chest,” Marshall said.

Marshall’s offseason was cut short because the Broncos wanted him and fellow inside linebacker Danny Trevathan (left kneecap) to report with the rookies Monday instead of with the veterans on Thursday.

”At first I didn’t want to come in early but it honestly helped me,” said Marshall, who missed all of the team’s offseason field work.

Trevathan, the Broncos’ top tackler in 2013, worked his way onto the field in June but spent most of the offseason practices with Marshall on the sideline.

The middle linebackers are the fulcrum of Wade Philips’ 3-4 defensive scheme, and there’s major questions surrounding Marshall and Trevathan as they return from their injuries.

Not in their minds, though.

”Danny and I are very confident. We believe in each other. We believe in ourselves,” Marshall said.

Trevathan said he and Marshall worked diligently all offseason in the classroom, weight room and training room.

”A lot of people had doubts about us and what we could do because of our injuries. It was just positive stuff with me and him,” Trevathan said. ”Brandon came in with the right attitude. I came in with the right attitude, and we’ve been attacking these practices day by day.

”We’ve been smart and taking care of each other. That’s going to help us be one of the best duos in the league.”

Safety T.J. Ward said he’s glad to see Marshall and Trevathan back on the field, even if it’s just cameos.

”Man, a tremendous boost just seeing them out there,” Trevathan said. ”They’re not going full-speed, doing everything we’re doing right now. But walkthroughs and 7-on-7s, just having them two down there has been great. Just seeing them down there is kind of another level of comfort.”

Anguish or not, Marshall plans to approach this summer’s camp with the same dogged determination that helped him have a breakout season last year after bouncing around the practice squads in Jacksonville and Denver.

”I can’t let myself get comfortable and say, `You know what, I’ve got a body of work, I’m good.’ No, I can’t do that,” Marshall said. ”I’ve got to treat it just like every other year because this is the most competitive sport in the world, man. Everybody’s out for your job. And I want to be the best, so why would I let myself get comfortable?”

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That starting spot at inside linebacker for the Denver Broncos? It will belong to him again once he’s healthy.

”I just believe in myself to the fullest,” he said.

Marshall led the team in tackles last season despite missing the final two games with a foot injury. He hurried back to the field for the postseason game against Indy only to hurt the foot again and need offseason surgery.

But he’s way ahead of schedule with his rehab. He thinks he will be close to full strength by training camp in July.

Good thing, too, because watching from the sideline this week at voluntary practice has been tough, especially since the Broncos are installing a new defense under defensive coordinator Wade Phillips.

At least Marshall has company, with fellow inside linebacker Danny Trevathan standing next to him. Trevathan is out of action as well after knee surgery.

Instead of going through drills, the tandem is offering pointers to Steven Johnson, Lamin Barrow and Todd Davis, who are filling in and gaining valuable field time.

”You don’t want them to take your spot. At the same time, you don’t want to be a (jerk),” said Marshall. ”When you coach somebody up, it gives you more knowledge, too.”

Recently, Marshall was cleared to return to the weight room.

Next up, running.

”I feel a lot better,” said Marshall, who will play the season with two screws in his foot. ”My foot feels a lot stronger. Just taking it one day at a time.”

That’s become his motto, especially since it took him quite a few years to even get his foot in the NFL door. A fifth-round pick by Jacksonville in 2012, Marshall was cut three times from the Jaguars before Denver signed him to the practice squad in September 2013. Three months later, the team promoted him to the active roster.

Marshall broke through last season by earning a job in the nickel defense alongside Trevathan. He was given even more responsibility with Trevathan missing most of the season with two fractures in his left leg. Marshall had 106 tackles going into a game at San Diego on Dec. 14.

That’s when an offensive lineman rolled onto his foot and it popped.

While he returned for the playoff loss to Andrew Luck and the Colts, he wasn’t the same.

”It’s unfortunate, but at least I won’t be out for the season,” Marshall said. ”At least we’ll deal with this thing right now and when training camp comes I’ll be ready to roll.”

Until then, he’ll brush up on his playbook and keep watching film. Just so he won’t fall too far behind.

”I have to learn through visual learning and just try to soak up as much information as I can,” Marshall said. ”When training camp comes, it’s going to come fast and I need to learn fast. I think I’ll be all right.”

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Marshall remained hospitalized Friday receiving treatment.

“I went over to the hospital last night to see him,” Bears coach Marc Trestman said. “He was in very good spirits. He’s got some healing to do.”

The team officially said Friday that the veteran won’t play in next Monday night’s game against the New Orleans Saints, and that it plans to make a determination on the best course of action for the receiver once it receives more information regarding his condition.

Marshall left Soldier Field in an ambulance after suffering the injury in the second quarter.

With 7:35 remaining in the first half, he caught a fourth-down pass from Jay Cutler. As Marshall secured the ball, Cowboys safety Barry Church came in late to make the play, jamming his right knee into the lower right side of the receiver’s back and midsection.

“Yeah, it looked kind of [like] an innocent hit. I didn’t see it that well,” Cutler said after the game. “He’s a big guy and has taken a lot of crazy hits over the years. He doesn’t stay down. So whenever he stays down, you know something is seriously wrong. We’re all worried about him. He’s our guy, and hopefully he’ll get back sooner rather than later. He’s in pain. We talked to him at halftime a little bit. They are still checking him out, but he was in good spirits.”

Athletic trainers attended to Marshall briefly before the receiver walked off the field under his own power. He was later escorted into the locker room, before being taken to a hospital by ambulance.

Marshall caught three passes for 61 yards prior to suffering the injury.

The hit Marshall took against the Cowboys marks the third time this season he suffered an injury that forced him to miss playing time. Marshall was slowed for the early part of the season because of a high right ankle sprain suffered against the Buffalo Bills in the opener. Then, during the team’s Nov. 9 loss to the Green Bay Packers, Marshall sprained his left ankle.

Marshall entered the game fourth on the team in receptions, and he now has 61 receptions for 721 yards and eight touchdowns.

With Marshall out of the mix for what sources say will be the remainder of the season, the Bears likely will use second-year receiver Marquess Wilson in his place while moving Josh Morgan into the slot receiver’s role.

“I think he was in good spirits, and that’s all we really talked about — that he was gonna be OK,” Trestman said. “He had a big smile on his face. That was the extent of it. He’s certainly one of the best communicators and charismatic guys we have on our football team.”

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Marshall was hurt taking a knee to the right side from the Cowboys’ Barry Church following a reception in the second quarter. That happened moments after he made a spectacular 42-yard catch, juggling the ball with his right hand, to help set up a touchdown.

He stayed down for several minutes and gingerly walked off the field. He then headed to the locker room, and TV cameras showed him leaving Soldier Field in an ambulance.

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