Is it for training camp competition or is the injury to Peyton Manning’s knee worse than previously acknowledged by the Indianapolis Colts?
The team remains one of the league’s strongest as long as Manning is able to play most of the season. But if the Colts have to use Jim Sorgi or one of their new signees, Quinn Gray and Jared Lorenzen, for any length of time, the team suddenly looks less imposing.
And in an improving division with Jacksonville, Houston and Tennessee all nipping at Indy’s heels, a couple games could make the difference between a first-round playoff bye and a couple of road games en route to the Super Bowl.
Coach Tony Dungy has expressed his belief that Manning will be back by the time the season starts from
surgery to remove an infected bursa sac. Manning, according to the Associated Press, says he’s not in much pain. But the star QB is expected back anytime from opening day to week three. And it wasn’t until this week that the team decided to upgrade its backup quarterback situation, dropping camp fodder QB Josh Betts to add the new guys. Again, only time will tell.
Lorenzen is only a small step up from Betts. With the additional money they’d have to pay him as a veteran, and the added food bills for training camp, a bit of a surprise move.
Gray is what makes the story interesting. If memory serves right (and it’s failed me often as of late), the Colts are one of the teams that has frequently only kept two QB.
Admittedly they probably just need 1-2 guys to keep Sorgi from getting tired–but Gray could also be a sign that they don’t trust Sorgi.