In order for Chez Mellusi to recover from an injury sustained last year, the Wisconsin running back would’ve needed to miss some of the team’s games in 2021. That wasn’t going to happen.

On Monday, Mellusi revealed that he played through last season with a bad hamstring, per Jeff Potrykus of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. He said that missing games in order to heal was “not an option.”

Even on a bad hamstring, Mellusi piled up the yardage during the 2021 campaign. He ended the season with 815 yards and 5 touchdowns while averaging 4.7 yards per carry.

Not too shabby for a player battling injury.

Wisconsin has the potential to have one of the best backfields in the country with Braelon Allen and Mellusi both returning for the 2022 season. Last year, Allen totaled 1,268 yards and 12 touchdowns as a freshman.

Mellusi, who transferred to Wisconsin from Clemson, will be extremely limited this spring as he focuses on his health heading into next fall.

The Badgers finished the 2021 season with a 9-4 record.