Trestman’s fourth-down call impresses Marshall

Marc Trestman’s decision to go for it on fourth-and-inches in the fourth quarter Monday night was a huge deal to wide receiver Brandon Marshall, especially since the Bears converted.

“In the locker room after the game, I just went up to coach and said, ‘You have some big huevos to do that,’” Marshall said. “That was a defining moment in the game. It’s definitely a trickle-down effect when you go for it on fourth down.

“That was a big call, a gutsy call. It shows the type of coach we have, the character, the demeanor. You want to play for guys like that.”

To Trestman, it was just another call, and he downplayed talk of sending a message to the locker room.

“There were things that went through my mind (at the time), certainly,” Trestman said. “But at that point in time, at that place, it just seemed like the thing to do.”

Help on the way:

Defensive coordinator Mel Tucker is anxious to get recently signed defensive tackle Jay Ratliff on the field, but he’s not sure when the four-time Pro Bowler will be fully recovered from a groin injury.

When healthy, Ratliff would provide much-needed reinforcement for an injury-thinned defensive line.

“First and foremost, he’s a veteran guy,” Tucker said. “He’s a no-nonsense guy, a pro’s pro. He’s very serious about the game of football. He’s a leader-by-example type of guy. Those are the intangibles that are there. And then obviously, his ability to win 1-on-1 and make plays, we like. I’m happy that he’s here.”

Walking wounded:

Long-snapper Patrick Mannelly is considered week-to-week with a calf injury from the first half of the Packers game, and Jeremy Cain has been signed as his likely replacement for Sunday against the Lions.

“Certainly it doesn’t look good for this week,” coach Marc Trestman said of the 38-year-old Mannelly, a 16-year veteran who has played more games (239) and more seasons than anyone in franchise history. “It’s day-to-day up to a couple of weeks.”

Cain was the Jaguars’ long-snapper the previous four seasons, and he was a backup linebacker who played in eight games for the Bears in 2004-05.

Injury report:

Had the Bears practiced Wednesday, linebacker Lance Briggs (shoulder), long-snapper Patrick Mannelly (calf) and tackle Jay Ratliff (groin) would not have participated.

Quarterback Jay Cutler (groin), cornerback Charles Tillman (knee), linebacker Blake Costanzo (back) and tight end Dante Rosario (ankle) would have been limited.