Eight days ago, Colts quarterback Peyton Manning signed a five-year, $90 million contract. The Colts have yet to realize any return on the investment, given that offseason neck surgery has relegated Manning to the Physically Unable to Perform list.
Though it’s widely assumed that Manning will be back soon, he won’t be back until he’s back (now that’s the most profound thing I’ve ever said) and until he’s back the Colts need to get their backups ready.
At the annual Blue and White Mock Game on Saturday, Dan “Wrong Way” Orlovsky and Curtis “Wrong Guy” Painter each handled five possessions. Painter completed 16 of 26 passes for 182 yards in his five possessions. Orlovsky hit connected on 14 of 22 throws for 120 yards, with one interception.
“I thought it went pretty well,” Painter said, via quotes distributed by the team. “I think the number one thing, when you get into situations like this is to not turn the ball over anytime you get into scrimmage-type situations. I thought I did a pretty good job at that. . . . I think we could have, should have, stuck a few in the end zone there. We got down there a couple times.”
Other quarterbacks on the roster include Mike Hartline and Nate Davis.
The Colts return to practice Monday, and they’ll open the preseason on Saturday against the Rams. It would be a surprise at this point if Manning plays.