The Facts: Manning is hopeful that he'll be ready to play in the season opener, but he won't be seeing any preseason action. "I certainly want to be out there, and it's hard to keep track of the hours I've spent in rehab," Manning said Saturday. "I was shortchanged a little bit by the lockout and I'm going to need every bit of the next two weeks, and then I can give you more of an update with where I am."

Diehards Line:As previously noted, owner Jim Irsay set off a bit of a Twitter firestorm by asking followers what veteran QB the team should sign if Manning, who has been on the team's physically-unable-to-perform list since the start of training camp after undergoing surgery in May to repair a nerve in his neck isn't ready to go for the regular-season opener. Team president Bill Polian followed that up by telling ESPN's Chris Mortensen the team "truly doesn't know" when Manning will be ready to go. Manning has a streak of 227 consecutive starts that is in jeopardy if he can't get himself ready for Week 1. If that happens, the Colts would likely have to start backup Curtis Painter. The other QBs on the roster are journeyman Dan Orlovsky and undrafted rookie Mike Hartline. ... Stay tuned. We'll continue to follow this one closely.