Peyton Manning does not have any new injury, according to sources with knowledge of the situation. He aggravated a partial tear in his plantar fascia that he suffered in the game against the Colts. Coming out of that game, on the turf, he had a scan and the injury was diagnosed and he was listed on the injury report.
There was no new tear, sources said, and no new scan on the area done as of this morning. This is an injury which Manning himself believed he could play with on Sunday. He already had discomfort in his foot and this is an injury that can impact players differently based on their position, their age, and the type of surface his team is playing on. But this is the same, nagging injury that was largely downplayed by Manning a week ago.
Manning, at age 39, has also been limited by a rib and shoulder issue at times this season and the accumulation of all of those ailments seems to be setting in. The foot was already something of a concern and will continue be evaluated on a week-by-week basis. Manning has been unable to practice much recently and the coaching staff must determine whether it is conducive for him to continue to operate in that fashion, or whether it makes more sense for him to sit at least a few weeks to try to get to a point where he can practice again to play.
Coach Gary Kubiak is expected to address the situation later today with the media and many within the organization would not be surprised if he opts to give Manning some extended rest. Brock Osweiler was functional as a backup in a mop-up role when he entered the game Sunday against the Chiefs and his increased mobility, if nothing else, opens up some options in an offense that at its core features bootlegs and waggles. Given the repressed state of Denver's offensive line, a fully healthy backup may also be conducive to a hobbled aging starter.
Manning completed just five passes on Sunday and threw four interceptions and had several other near interceptions dropped by defenders. The Broncos face the Bears on Sunday and then meet the Patriots in a prime-time game the following week in what was being billed as perhaps the final meeting between Manning and longtime nemesis Tom Brady. It remains to be seen if Manning returns for that game, and, furthermore, if he does sit for an extended period of time, Kubiak could face another dilemma should the long-suffering passing attack actually pick up with Osweiler at the helm.
