The last couple of seasons for Denver Broncos star wide receiver Demaryius Thomas have been a battle, as he has suffered numerous injuries along the way.

Thomas recently admitted that the toll of the injuries pushed him to consider retirement prior to his ninth season in the league, saying that it truly tested his love for the game. (h/t Zack Kelberman of 247 Sports)

“For, like, the past two years, for real, it's been my neck and my hip,” Thomas told Palmer. “It was just times I couldn't compete my best. And you know, sometimes, I remember one game we were playing the Patriots, and the corner (Logan Ryan) called it out. He said, ‘You're not yourself.' And I was like, ‘Man, I'm doing whatever I can to try to get attention.' “

Thomas has been tested physically over the last two seasons. He suffered a torn labrum in the season opener of the 2016 campaign (he was able to play through the pain for the entire year). He has also dealt with other nagging issues that he has also powered through, not missing a single game since 2011.

The injuries have impacted Thomas' level of production, as he failed to reach 1,000 receiving yards in the 2017 campaign, snapping a streak of five straight seasons that he reached that mark. However, he has taken steps forward this offseason with his health through a strict diet and training regimen. He hopes that doing so will get him back on track to being one of the most productive wideouts in the league.

All of this sets up an important year that will be indicative of how much Thomas has left in the tank, as it could either further strengthen his passion for the game or possibly push him to lean more toward stepping away sooner than expected.