Week 21 QB projections   •  DEN Stats

QB Peyton Manning, Denver Broncos

HT: 6-5, WT: 230, Born: 3-24-1976, College: Tennessee, Drafted: Round 1, Pick 1

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Stats and Week 21 Projection

Week 21 Injury Status and Other News

No official injury reports have been released yet

[Fri Feb 3, 4:41 PM] Peyton Manning Colts general manager Ryan Grigson said Thursday, Feb. 2, he has spoken with Peyton Manning. "We had a nice discussion," Grigson said. "We spoke for 20 minutes or so. It's been amicable. It's been a normal thing. We talked like regular guys, I felt. It was an open conversation and I told him what I knew. Whatever I knew, I told him. It was a straightforward, man-to-man conversation. It was fine." Grigson admitted that the Manning situation is in a "holding pattern", and he has not watched Manning throw.

Manning's agent, Tom Condon, said Friday, Feb. 3, that he believes Manning will be healthy and ready to go for the 2012 season. "Peyton's not done," Condon said. Condon added Manning's medical clearance means it would be safe for him to play, and that he wouldn't be risking greater injury to his neck. However, Manning's nerve regeneration hasn't reached the point where he would be able to step on the field and play in an NFL game today.

[Thu Feb 2, 4:27 PM] Peyton Manning Adam Vinatieri was among the teammates who got a look at Peyton Manning when he returned to throwing a football following his third neck procedure in the last two years. Vinatieri said Manning is not far off from his usual form. "I haven't watched him the last few weeks, but I did see him at the end of the season," Vinatieri said. "He was developing nicely. Was he quite all the way back yet? No, probably not. Not to his standards. But he definitely is not that far off."

According to ESPN's Chris Mortensen, Manning has been medically cleared to resume his NFL career. Doctors who examined Manning said he could have played this Sunday if the nerves in his arm had regenerated to an acceptable performance level. Manning has been advised to continue an aggressive rehab approach that could put him on a good path to playing in 2012. One source with familiarity of Manning's medical review said, "It's not a safety issue; it's a performance issue." This source added that Manning is "making progress". There is no timeline for when Manning will reach an acceptable performance level as far as the strength of his throws.

[Wed Feb 1, 5:50 PM] Peyton Manning isn't sure he'll be back with the team next season. "I don't want to get into some kind of fan campaign with the owner, but I think it's well-documented that I want to play in the same place my whole career," Manning told the Indianapolis Star. "It's been a privilege to play here. I love the fans, the city, the transformation of the fans... but I understand how it works. I understand tough decisions have to be made. There's personal and there's business, and that's where we've got to separate the two." Manning isn't at full strength yet and it's unknown if he will be by the time he is due a $28 million option bonus in early March. He continues to work out on a daily basis. Manning's agent, Tom Condon, said Manning will consider his options if he is released by the Colts. "Peyton is under contract," Condon says. "If that changes, we'll consider the options."

Manning and owner Jim Irsay offered a joint statement to "dispel any misperceptions' after an ugly back-and-forth in the media in late January. However, it appears the team has decided to move on without the veteran. "According to sources who were involved in the Colts' (general manager) search, the organization was planning to move on from Manning weeks ago, well before this public squabble between the quarterback and his owner," NFL Network Insider Jason La Canfora said. "So Friday's joint statement won't be changing a thing." A decision is expected to come before the NFL Scouting Combine.

On Sunday, January 30th, people close to Manning reportedly did not believe he'll resume his playing career. The nerves in Manning's arm are not healing as quickly as hoped and do not appear to be progressing at enough of a rate to indicate that he will play again, according to two sources with knowledge of Manning's rehabilitation from neck surgery. The vertebrae in his neck that were fused have healed as expected and Manning began throwing in December. However, he hasn't shown improvement in velocity on his passes, and the two sources fear he likely never will again. However, on Tuesday, January 31st, Manning said he is feeling great in his recovery process, but he hasn't talked with owner Jim Irsay about his future with the team. "I really feel good. I continue to make progress every day," Manning said. "Everything that the doctors have told me has been on point, which is encouraging to me." He will have checkups over the next several weeks, and he is encouraged that he will return to play football.

Jim Irsay said he would meet with Manning next week, but more decisions about his future with the team likely won't be made until early March. Manning is due a $28 million option bonus on March 8. Irsay said they could give Manning a deal to delay the payment and the deadline.

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