The Indianapolis Star cited a source in its report on Wednesday that said Manning won’t be ready to participate once camp begins. The paper also indicated that he could be sidelined for a week or could miss most of camp.
A timetable is unlikely to be determined until after Manning meets with team medical personnel, something he has not been able to do because of the lockout.
Manning underwent a procedure for a disk-related issue in his neck on May 23, and it was initially reported that recovery time would be about 6-to-8 weeks. The superstar quarterback also had surgery in March 2010 to relieve pain in his neck caused by a pinched nerve and did not miss camp.
In February, the Colts placed their franchise tag on Manning, locking up the former Super Bowl MVP for the upcoming season. However, that tag designation could be eliminated in the settlement of the lawsuit against the league in which Manning took part.
The Colts had been trying to work toward a new long-term deal with Manning, the four-time league MVP who has never missed a game in 13 seasons with the club.
