One thing that NFL fans can rely on every year is that they will see Peyton Manning suit up for the Indianapolis Colts at least 16 times a year.
His status for the first game of the season is now in question.
With the season opener only six days away, doctors have told Manning not to practice this week.
The Colts released a statement Monday morning saying the quarterback’s status for the opener against the Houston Texans “will likely be doubtful.”
“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 Colts said. “As of now Peyton continues to deal with a complicated neurological recovery, the end date of which is unpredictable.”
Manning continues to recover from off-season neck surgery, prompting the team to convince Kerry Collins to come out of retirement last month and join the team.
The durable quarterback has played in 209 consecutive regular season games at quarterback, 100 plus games better than the next player on the list, who just happens to be his brother Eli.
According to the team, Manning’s rate of improvement slowed last week. The four-time MVP experienced soreness in his back, the Colts said.
The continued soreness prompted the Colts doctors to initiate diagnostic tests and consult with specialists.
Said the Colts: “As was stated at the outset, it serves no useful purpose to speculate about hypothetical outcomes. When and if there are concrete medical facts to report we will do so.”
