James Conner is grateful to have reached 100 games in the NFL, which he will Sunday against the Bears. He's approaching it like he always has.

"I'm going to do me," Conner said.

But when you dial back time with the running back, before his first NFL stint with the Pittsburgh Steelers, back to college at the University of Pittsburgh when he was diagnosed with cancer, 100 NFL games might've seemed out of reach. Yet it isn't surprising, really, to hear Conner say that even if you had suggested such a milestone as he lay in a hospital bed, he wouldn't have doubted it.

"I always tried to think of the best possible outcome," Conner said. "When I first got diagnosed I was just thinking, 'It'll be a great story to tell.' That's what I tried to live by. I think I would've believed it, for sure, because I had great faith. But to see it come to fruition is surreal."

Conner had his first 1,000-yard season last year. With health, he'll get there again this season. His teammates and coaches can't compliment him enough. Conner's next rushing touchdown, if Sunday his 50th game with the Cardinals, would be his 34th with the team, giving him sole possession of third in half the time No. 2 Wayne Morris (37 in 100 games) and No. 1 Ottis Anderson (46 in 99 games) got there.

A free-agent-to-be after the season, Conner may be crossing 100 games in the pros. But he's playing the best football of his career.

"I think it's best I've felt," Conner said. "A lot of my career has been trial and error, trying to get my body in its best way. Battled injuries early on in Pittsburgh. But as the years go on, I'm figuring out my routines, spending more time and effort and money on my body. (Running backs coach Autry Denson) has been a great help, getting me right and helping me with my longevity. So I would say so – my best football for sure."