Peyton Manning Looking Less Likely To Start Week 1 For Colts

With the Colts' signing of Kerry Collins, it's clear that Indianapolis thinks Peyton Manning's health is doubtful enough to necessitate veteran help. ESPN's Adam Schefter is reading the tea leaves to mean that Manning may well miss the Colts' season opener.

@mortreport reporting Colts' braintrust does not believe Peyton Manning will be ready for regular-season opener in Houston. Manning hopeful.

That's ESPN's Chris Mortensen Schefter's referring to, and Mortensen's information from the Colts is about the best anyone has to go on regarding Manning at this moment. Manning, still recovering from surgery on his neck in May, was throwing in Colts camp at the beginning of August, but has yet to take part in any preseason games and will likely miss the entirety of the exhibition season.

Manning's been one of the NFL's best quarterbacks for the better part of a decade, but he's also been one of the league's healthiest players during that time. Manning has made 208 consecutive starts, which ranks him second all-time among NFL quarterbacks to Brett Favre and eighth all-time among NFL players in terms of consecutive starts made, and has started every game of his NFL career.

For more on the Colts, head to Stampede Blue and SB Nation Indiana.