Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning was sacked four times by the Colts on Sunday night and Robert Mathis had one for a safety that appeared to be a particularly hard blow.
After that hit, Manning threw some wobbly passes that he downplayed when speaking to the media following the loss. It was hard not to think about the Mathis hit and the other ones that Manning took on Sunday night when word came out of Denver that Manning wasn’t practicing on Wednesday during the portion of the session open to the media.
Ed Werder of ESPN reported Manning wore a helmet and no pads and wasn’t throwing while the rest of the Broncos were going through the start of their work for the day, but the reason given for his day off doesn’t have to do with his arm or neck. Mike Klis of the Denver Post reports that Manning is being held out of practice to get treatment on his ankle. An injured ankle could also affect Manning’s throws, of course, but it’s less alarming as other body parts.
Klis adds that the team expects Manning to practice on Thursday. Unless that doesn’t happen, there wouldn’t seem to be much reason to worry that Manning will miss this week’s game against the Redskins.
Manning was one of many Broncos regulars to miss practice on Wednesday. Klis reports wide receiver Eric Decker, guard Chris Kuper, wide receiver Wes Welker, tackle Orlando Franklin, linebacker Shaun Phillips, cornerback Champ Bailey and tight end Joel Dreessen were also on the sideline. Bailey is expected to miss Week Eight while Franklin missed last weekend’s game with an ankle injury.