Life without Peyton Manning is uncomfortable for the Indianapolis Colts, something made clear by the team's 34-7 loss to the Houston Texans in Sunday's season opener.
The biggest question hovering over the team is just when the franchise quarterback could return following last week's cervical fusion surgery. The Colts have been reticent to provide any type of timetable, although team owner Jim Irsay offered a very vague schedule Sunday.
"With these things, you never know the time frame," Irsay told The Indianapolis Star. "There's a broad range of two to six months."
The Colts have opted to keep Manning on their active roster, leaving the door open for a potential return later in the season. It hurts the team's roster flexibility but gives Manning a chance to get back in 2011 if his recovery goes well.
"There are restraints on the roster when you start getting a lot of guys banged up," Irsay said. "You take it a week at a time, and in a three-month period, he may be really getting down the road to being able to practice."
The Colts and Manning agreed on a five-year, $90 million deal in July, but the team has the ability to cut ties with the QB by opting out of a $28 million option bonus due in February. Manning -- who's already ensured $26.4 million as part of the new deal -- then would become a free agent.
Colts general manager Bill Polian downplayed any talk of Manning playing on a field without a horseshoe on his helmet.
"In terms of Peyton Manning playing football," Polian told CBS, "he's going to play for the Colts, that's for sure."
