Manning’s status for Sunday’s opener has been in doubt since he underwent May 23 surgery to repair a bulging disk in his neck. But there was some optimism as Manning was activated off the physically unable to perform list Aug. 29 and began practicing on a limited basis. However, last week, the team said, “the rate of improvement in Peyton’s rehabilitation process slowed.

“His participation therefore, in Sunday’s game versus Houston, will likely be doubtful,’’ the team said in a statement. “We will update his playing status as required by NFL policy as the week goes on.’’

Apparently Manning started having soreness in his back. He has been the team’s only starting quarterback since 1998 and has never missed a game in his NFL career – 227 straight games. He would still have to start every game until deep into the 2016 season to break Brett Favre’s consecutive starts mark of 297 (regular season only; Manning has started 208 straight regular-season games). Manning missed the entire preseason for only the second time in his career. He also sat out in 2008 after he needed surgery twice to remove an infected bursa sac in his left knee.

Kerry Collins, who signed a two-year, $14 million contract on Aug. 24, would replace Manning in the starting lineup. He would be the first QB not named Manning to start for the Colts since Jim Harbaugh, who started the final game of the 1997 season. Many experts think Indy is about a four-win team without Manning (hence the Bengals reference).

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