Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning didn’t have his best day of the season on Sunday, but it could have been a whole lot worse.
Manning took a concussion test from the team’s medical staff after taking a hard hit from Chiefs defensive lineman from Tyson Jackson while delivering a touchdown pass to tight end Jacob Tamme just before halftime. Manning’s head hit the ground hard on the play and that led to the test, which showed Manning didn’t have a concussion, as well as precautionary x-rays.
“I’m fine, everything checked out OK, " Manning said, via Mike Klis of the Denver Post. “I took a hit there, but I was cleared.”
Manning was less accurate in the second half than he was during the first two quarters, completing 9-of-20 passes compared to 13-of-17 before the break, but he threw for more yards and a touchdown after halftime to help Denver improve to 8-3 on the season. Assuming no other symptoms crop up in the next few days, we’d expect Manning to be back under center when the Broncos host the Buccaneers next weekend.