Peyton Manning will miss his first ever NFL game after being officially ruled out of the Indianapolis Colts' season-opener.
Colts quarterback to miss first ever NFL game with neck problem
Peyton Manning will miss his first ever NFL game after being officially ruled out of the Indianapolis Colts' season-opener against the Houston Texans on Sunday.
The four-time winner of the league's Most Valuable Player award has not fully recovered from neck surgery he underwent during the off-season.
The 35-year-old has played in every NFL game since he was drafted in 1998, a streak that has seen him rack up 227 consecutive starts.
But the neck operation left him unable to take part in practice in the week leading up to the clash with the Texans and his absence from the game has now been confirmed.
Veteran Kerry Collins, who came out of retirement to sign for the Colts recently, will take Manning's place behind centre at Reliant Stadium.
"To say I am disappointed in not being able to play is an understatement. The best part about football is being out there on the field with my team mates," Manning said.
"It will be tough not to be out there playing for the organization and our fans. I simply am not healthy enough to play, and I am doing everything I can to get my health back."
