By doctors’ orders, Manning could miss first-ever start

By MICHAEL MAROT
AP Sports Writer
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Peyton Manning’s consecutive games streak could be history by Sunday.
Team officials said Monday that the four-time league MVP has been told by doctors not to practice and he will be listed as doubtful for the season opener against Houston. He is still undergoing tests, but no additional surgery has been scheduled.
“As a result of the most recent development the doctors have decided that Peyton will not practice,” a Colts statement said. “His participation therefore, in Sunday’s game versus Houston will likely be doubtful. We will update his playing status as required by NFL policy as the week goes on.”
Manning started training camp on the physically unable to perform list as he rehabilitated from neck surgery performed in May. He wasn’t activated until last Monday, when he returned to practice, albeit with limited work.
When Manning experienced soreness in his back, team officials originally thought it was simply part of the normal rehab process. But over the weekend, the statement said, doctors re-evaluated Manning and told him to stop working out.
“At the conclusion of the diagnostic process, if there are any new developments in the prognosis which we outlined for Peyton at the start of training camp we will report them,” the team said. “As of now, Peyton continues to deal with a complicated neurological recovery, the end date of which is unpredictable.”
Manning, the only four-time MVP in league history, has never missed a regular-season start and his streak of 227 games including playoffs is second for quarterbacks; only Brett Favre made more consecutive starts.
If Manning cannot start, the job will likely fall to Kerry Collins. The Colts brought Collins, a 16-year veteran, out of retirement Aug. 17 after team owner Jim Irsay told fans to be prepared for the possibility of starting the season without Manning.
Speculation about Manning’s status began all over Sunday night when a local sports talk radio host tweeted that Manning would need a second surgery on his injured neck.
After the original posting, it was reported that Manning was expected to see more doctors about the slow pace of his recovery.
Team officials repeatedly have said Manning would not be cleared to practice without the consent of the doctors. Manning often has blamed the NFL’s 41⁄2-month lockout, in part, for the slow progress because he could not work with team doctors.
On Aug. 20, Manning ruled himself out of the final two preseason games and acknowledged he would need “every bit” of the remaining time to get healthy enough to play in the opener.
Manning, however, did not even dress for Thursday night’s exhibition finale at Cincinnati and missed the entire preseason for only the second time in his career.

Print