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QB won't guarantee he can play in opener after 160
starts in row
By Mike Chappell
Indystar.com
The question that remains unanswered, though, is: Will
the NFL's two-time MVP be on the field when the Colts open the
regular season Sept. 7 against the Chicago Bears?
Colts owner Jim Irsay conceded "it'll be close on
Peyton. Only he will know if he's ready. I think there's a good
chance he will be.
"We know there's more rehab ahead, but he is on
schedule. The anticipation is he'll be ready, but it'll be close."
Manning's availability and ability to extend his
streak of 160 consecutive regular-season starts have been in doubt
since he underwent surgery July 14 to remove an infected bursa sac
from his left knee. His rehabilitation forced him to miss all of
training camp in Terre Haute and likely will keep him off the
practice field at least until next week.
As for being ready for the Colts' nationally-televised
opener against the Bears, Manning offered optimism, not a guarantee.
"That is my goal, to be ready for that first game
. . . it has been my goal all along," he said in his first
interaction with the media since a July 24 conference call.
"Hopefully it continues to progress up until that point."
Manning was unable to predict when he might be cleared
to practice. He also didn't know how much practice time he would need
to get up to speed for the Bears game.
Manning has been working extensively with Erin Barill,
the Colts' director of rehabilitation, following Barill's exhaustive regimen.
"I've had a tough month," Manning said.
"It's truly been a challenge for me, certainly something totally
different than I've had to ever experience. Just constant rehab."
He has worked at regaining the range of motion in his
left knee, done some throwing to keep his arm in shape, is lifting
weights and has been able to do some light running. He did some light
throwing at Lucas Oil Stadium and walked around the field with a wrap
on his left knee, but no noticeable limp.
"As far as when and how much time I'll need,
we'll just kind of have to wait and see for that," Manning said.
It's hard to imagine the Colts ushering in their Lucas
Oil Stadium era without the player most responsible for its existence
in the starting lineup Sept. 7. Yet Irsay insisted he has talked at
length with Manning about the situation, and stressed the importance
for everyone involved to keep the bigger picture in mind.
"I just told him I want to make sure you feel 100
percent and you're ready to go because it's a long season,"
Irsay said. "With the human body . . . you just don't know for
sure. But we're hopeful that he'll be able to go." |
